Former captains Habibul Bashar, Minhajul Abedin Nannu, and Khaled Mashud Pilot didn't mince words: this isn't just a passing stumble. It's a full-blown crisis in Bangladesh cricket.
Despite posting an imposing 205 for five in the second and penultimate T20I on Monday, the Tigers fell apart in the field, suffering their first-ever loss to the hosts in any format.
The decision was taken following discussions between Emirates Cricket Board and Bangladesh Cricket Board.
Known primarily for his left-arm spin, Rakibul is beginning to showcase the kind of all-round ability that could one day earn him a similar status. His recent match-winning performances with both bat and ball in the emerging team suggest that Bangladesh may have found a new dual-threat talent in the making.
The least the board can do is maintain a basic line of communication and show they care about engagement beyond the boundary.
With a five-T20I tour of Pakistan to follow, and the Asia Cup likely to be staged in the UAE, these games offer a timely opportunity to assess conditions and sharpen plans.
As it seems, the dilemma for Bangladesh remains: is Shanto worth the tactical compromise?
A Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official on Thursday said that they have received clearance from the government regarding the Tigers' upcoming tour of Pakistan later this month.
The two sides will now play a two-match four-day series, with the first game starting on May 14 in Sylhet.
The national team stars, who are not playing franchise cricket outside the country, will join Bangladesh Tigers or partake in individual sessions following their break as per team management’s plans as the focus shifts back to red-ball cricket with the two-Test tour to Pakistan in August coming up.
BCB's chief physician, Debashish Chowdhury, confirmed the development to The Daily Star.
What happens inside the team environment usually stays out of public knowledge, but this time the news about Taskin was leaked quite some time after the World Cup game in question.
The leggie grabbed 14 wickets in seven matches in competition, finishing as Bangladesh’s most successful bowler in the competition, and joint third overall in the tournament.
As another discussion follows on performances, will BCB this time be relieved with having made the second stage, or will they form another probe committee?
The truth is, the Tigers have exceeded pre-tournament expectations. Yet, at the same time, they have left fans bitterly disappointed.
The Tigers remain the only team to have participated in all nine editions of the T20 World Cup without reaching the semi-finals.
The manner of their exit from the global event has left fans disconsolate and experts baffled.
Following the red-ball format, Bangladesh A will play a fifty-over tri-series with Pakistan Shaheens and Northern Territory of Australia.
In a game where the batting order had to be shuffled to make the chase in 12.1 overs, Bangladesh resorted to normalcy.
