‘Mash is a fighter’

It will be interesting to see how the Bangladesh team approach the upcoming Nidahas Trophy under new interim coach Courtney Walsh after a disappointing home series against Sri Lanka where the Tigers were beaten in all three formats.

The Tigers will depart for Sri Lanka today to play the tri-nation T20I series that also involves India and the hosts.

Chaos had reigned during their previous series against Sri Lanka, from the team selection to providing specific plans, and it was exacerbated due to a communication gap under technical director Khaled Mahmud.

However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has this time realised the need for a coach who can guide the ship with a clear plan, with Mahmud returning to his previous duties as team manager. His replacement, Walsh, informed that things would be different this time around and urged the players and board officials for support.

"Everything happened in a rush the last time [during the Sri Lanka series]. It is different now since there is someone who is responsible for organising and ensuring things are done properly. I will try to have dialogues with all the relevant parties about what is required. I think it is good for someone to be able to hold their hand up and say yes or no to what's happening," Walsh told reporters after the Tigers' final training session at the Sher-e-Bangla National stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

"I am excited to be in that position. I am sure I will get the full support of the BCB, president, directors, senior players and even the junior players. Once everybody comes to the table and we work together, it will be good to start planning how we go from here," added the legendary Jamaican.

The message from the interim coach, who added that he wants the players to be proud of representing Bangladesh, is clear; forget what happened in the past, enjoy the game without taking any added pressure and do things with a purpose.

There will be a change to the planning as regular skipper Shakib Al Hasan was ruled out of the series yesterday, but Walsh urged the others to step up.

"Everybody has to step up to the plate. Shakib is still getting treatment so we are not sure when he might be available. We have to plan at the moment without him. I don't want to divulge too much of the plans. We are going to have to do things a bit differently in his absence. He is a hard player to replace overnight. He does everything -- bat, bowl, field and captain. As soon as he is well enough to play, we will have to get him there," Walsh added.

The 55-year-old pulled no punches, saying that Bangladesh would be underdogs in the series, which starts on March 6 before the Tigers' first game against India on March 8.

"There will be specific targets; what we want to achieve and how we will go about doing it. We have started the discussions already. We will fine-tune that once everybody arrives in Sri Lanka.

"My target will be to win as many games as possible on this tour. I am very hopeful that we can do so. It will be nice to get into the final. We are taking it a game at a time at this point," Walsh said.

The legendary fast bowler, who conducted a special camp with the pacers ahead of the series, said that the team would rely on fast bowlers such as Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed in the absence of Shakib in the spin department.

Bangladesh bowling coach Courtney Walsh is undertaking a week-long bowling camp and the fast bowling legend says that the pacers are working on consistency and mental strength to prepare for the upcoming tri-nation T20 series in March.

Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed were among 14 others, who are taking part in the bowling camp and learning valuable traits from the legendary West Indian.

The Tigers gave away over 400 runs in the recently concluded two-match T20 series against Sri Lanka and managed to pick up just eight wickets and lost the series 2-0. The faster bowlers have struggled for consistency is recent times and Walsh believed that it is important to start working on deficiencies right away.

"We have to do some work. We didn't do too well at home. We have a very challenging series in Sri Lanka so it is best for us to hit the ground running. We have to forget about what happened in the last series and focus on the one coming up now," Walsh said.

Walsh informed that the camp was undertaken to provide the pacers with some of the important concepts of fast bowling.

"We haven't bowled as consistently as we would have liked so this camp is to focus on that. They have to understand their roles in the upcoming series. The camp is also to make them know what fast bowling is all about, and the hard work that is required. It is a combination of both," he suggested.

Tigers have bowled good deliveries but then ruined the momentum by bowling loose deliveries to release the pressure. Walsh believes that they were trying too hard and opined that with a more consistent and relaxed approach, execution of skill will improve.

"The guys went a little bit over the top in terms of trying a bit too hard. They have to know what best to do in a situation and how to execute it," Walsh said.

The excitement of the Dhaka Premier League will be ramped up as the top six clubs, with very little separating them in the points table, resume battle as the Super League gets underway from today.

At the Sher-e-Bangla National stadium in Mirpur, table-toppers Abahani Limited have been clinical in the 12-team first and will hope to continue in that vein when they take on defending champions Gazi Group Cricketers, who scraped through to the Super League at the last moment after a disappointing start to the tournament.

Bangladesh ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has been instrumental behind Abahani's success during the league phase as the right-arm pacer sits top of the wicket-takers' list with 30 wickets in 11 games at a spectacular average of 13.26 and economy rate of 4.38.

His best figures of six for 44 came against Agrani Bank on March 6, when he bagged four wickets in four consecutive deliveries in the over of the tournament with the batting side required 13 runs off six balls.

Abahani's Nazmul Hossain struck a magnificent unbeaten 150 off just 120 balls in the last group stage game against Shinepukur Cricket Club to post a huge total of 335 for four and the left-hander will be oozing confidence alongside in-form openers Anamul Haque and Saif Hasan, while skipper Nasir Hossain also had some good outings with the bat.

"In the Super League stage each team will have to play five games where we are leading at the moment and we have to at least win four of those. I believe even if we are able to execute 80 per cent of our full effort we will be able to become champions," Abahani pacer Taskin Ahmed told reporters at the Academy ground in Mirpur yesterday.

With eight wins in 11 games Abahani lead the table with 14 points while Gazi, with six wins, have 12 points.

Gazi will look to continue the momentum gained from the latter stage of the league after a disappointing start and Mominul Haque, who has just one fifty from 11 games, will have to step up. Young off-spinner Nayeem Hassan, on the other hand, has bowled well to pick up 20 wickets at an economy rate of 4.07 and will be a crucial weapon.

At the BKSP in Savar, Legends of Rupganj -- in second place with 14 points -- will take on fifth-placed Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club who have 12 points.

Rupganj's batsmen are in terrific form. Opener Abdul Mazid is the top scorer among Bangladeshi players with 536 runs in 11 games at an average of 53.60, a tally exceeded only by Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity's Indian recruit Ashok Menaria, who has 570 runs.

Rupganj skipper, the experienced Nayeem Islam, stands in third position with 529 runs. Tigers' wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim's inclusion will also help Rupganj's fight for the championship.

Sheikh Jamal will bank on the experienced spin bowling department with the likes of Tanbir Hayder, Elias Sunny, Sohag Gazi and Nazmul Islam expected to play a crucial role. Opener Shykat Ali and skipper Nurul Hasan will have to take responsibility with the bat.

At the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, the surprise package of the ongoing DPL -- Khelaghar on 14 points -- will once more look to surprise. They will look to their in-form Indian recruit Menaria, as well as opener Robiul Islam, against Forhad Reza's Prime Dowleshwar Sporting Club, who are a point behind on 13.

Bangladesh bowlers have not had the best of tournaments in the ongoing Nidahas Trophy and Courtney Walsh suggests that the bowlers need to step up for the crucial match against Sri Lanka tomorrow.

It is a do or die game for both the Tigers and the Lankan Lions and key players need to come into their own for this crucial match and as bowling has not been Tigers most impressive weapon this tournament, Walsh was hoping that someone like Mustafizur Rahman can bring out their A game.

"This game is a crucial game and let's hope Mustafiz can step up to the plate as well as we know he can. I mean in the PSL he had a few fantastic games as well. It is just a case of getting a couple of good games as well," Walsh said.

Rubel Hossain showed fantastic death bowling skills in the last game against India where he gave away just 27 runs in his four overs for two wickets while other were going at over 9 an over -- spinner Nazmul Islam was the only other exception.

Walsh agreed that Rubel was very consistent and said that another bowler need to step up to really give Bangladesh the surge to go through to the final.

"Rubel has been very very consistent. If the other guys step up, it would give us a bit more cushion. Someone like Mustafiz for example…we know what he can do. If he has a good game and Rubel has a good game then it would help us tremendously," Walsh suggested.