Image Credit- Getty
Without some of the more seasoned and even legendary
players there, is the Bangladeshi team’s locker room a better place? Coach
Chandika Hathurusinghe did not say as much at the conclusion of what he dubbed
a “successful tour” of New Zealand, but she did state that “the
environment in the dressing room is much better”.
Following a draw in their home Test series, Bangladesh
travelled to New Zealand to play three ODIs and three T20Is. The ODI series was
won by New Zealand 2-1, however Bangladesh’s victory in the third ODI marked
the team’s first-ever victory over the hosts in the format. The T20I series
ended in a 1-1 draw.
The left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam was arguably
Bangladesh’s most consistently outstanding player in the white-ball matches,
and Najmul Hossain Shanto, who took over as captain of the team in lieu of
Shakib Al Hasan, showed initiative on the pitch and received plaudits from his
coach.
“The attitude of the players, this young group
had no fear. They wanted to compete in the middle,” Hathurusingha said
after the third T20I. “The other thing… the leadership of Shanto.
Outstanding. He was tactically spot on, and very clear with the messages with
the players, what he expects from them. And I thought we did the basics longer
than before.”
“Seniors not [being] here has nothing to do with
these guys’ attitude,” Hathurusingha said. “They enjoy their cricket,
and I think the environment in the dressing room is much better because the
communication is very clear, as I said, from Shanto. And they know they are
good enough players to compete. That’s why there’s no fear in the players’
minds.”
Throughout the ODIs and T20Is, Shanto—who is only 25
years old and still in his form as the national captain—did not perform at his
best with the bat. His lone meaningful contribution came in the final ODI, when
he was bowled out for 51 runs in 42 balls during a 99-ball chase. However, his
poise as skipper impressed. He has only served as a sort of stand-by leader
thus far, taking over only when the more experienced guys are absent. Could
things, however, alter at this point?
“I think they [the Bangladesh selectors] will
strongly think about that,” Hathurusingha said. “Of course, it’s a
board decision, but Shanto has shown enough evidence for them to take him
seriously.”