ICC World Cup preview | Perennial underachiever Bangladesh can cause a stir or two Premium

Shakib Al Hasan’s Bangladesh side will hope to improve on its eighth-place finish at the ICC World Cup in 2019

Ever since making its World Cup debut in 1999, Bangladesh has qualified for each of the six editions so far. Still, being the perennial underachiever it is, the Bangladesh team still enters the showpiece event with an intention of causing a few upsets rather than making a case for the crown.

The case will be no different in 2023, as Shakib Al Hasan’s Tigers will hope to improve on its eighth-place finish four years ago.

In none of the previous six editions has Bangladesh won more than three games. And that’s far fewer than the requisite number in order to qualify for the knockouts.

In a 14-team event in 2015, riding on its three wins (and a washed out game), Bangladesh made it to the quarterfinal — its best result — before being blown away by Rohit Sharma’s hundred in the last eight.

One of the problems plaguing the Bangladesh outfit is the over-reliance on veterans and a lack of consistent support from the younger crop. The same will be on display over the next two months as old warhorses Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim will have to lead from the front.

The duo — along with an able support staff including Chandika Hathurasingha and Allan Donald — will also have to ensure that the ripple effect of controversy surrounding Tamim Iqbal’s omission does not hamper the group.

While Shakib will obviously hold the key as one of the leading all-rounders in world cricket, he will be hoping for Mehidy Hasan Miraz to rise to the big occasion. Besides his skilful off-spin bowling, Mehidy, over the last few years, has emerged as a consistent batter. Should he take the load off Mushfiqur and Shakib, it may result in Litton Das at the top and youngsters Towhid Hridoy and Nasum Ahmed batting freely at the death.