‘Other teams are playing better’

In the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup, we take a look back on World Cups past through the eyes of Bangladesh's former World Cup stars. Akram Khan had featured for the nation's inaugural World Cup campaign in 1999 and another time after that in the 2003 edition. Akram, who is now one of the national selectors, had captained Bangladesh in 15 ODIs. In an interview with The Daily Star's Nabid Yeasin recently, he shared some of his World Cup memories and more.

The Daily Star (TDS): You played in the 1999 and 2003 World Cups for Bangladesh. How significant is it for a player to feature in a World Cup?

Akram Khan (AK): The World Cup is obviously a special event because it comes every four years. The exposure in a World Cup is more than in any series or tournament and its value is also higher. For those reasons, every player wants to play well at a World Cup. In 1999, we had to qualify by playing the ICC Trophy and only then could we play in the World Cup. So, at that time the excitement was totally different as Bangladesh, for the first time, qualified for the World Cup. Playing in your first World Cup is a different experience altogether.

TDS: What is your best World Cup memory?

AK: My best World Cup memory would be the time when we beat Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup. I scored 42 runs, but the most important thing back then was to win the game. Now, we win matches almost regularly, but back then it was not the case. Now the players get some monetary rewards or some assets as rewards for their performance, but at that time for a good performance of the team, the Bangladesh team would be rewarded. For instance, we qualified for the ICC Trophy and Bangladesh got ODI status and after beating Pakistan, Bangladesh received Test status. These things had huge value to us and everyone else as those were first-ever achievements for us.

TDS: Any memorable World Cup incident or story that you would like to share?

AK: We actually enjoyed the whole 1999 World Cup. However, in the game against Scotland which we game, there was a funny incident. Shujon [Khaled Mahmud], Pilot [Khaled Mashud] and I had taken our wives to watch the game, but unfortunately, we were all dismissed for ducks. Everyone in the team teased us after that and that was a funny thing.

TDS: Describe the challenges you have faced over the years. Previously as a player and now as a national selector.

AK: Actually, both being a player and selector have been challenging. When I was a player, I had some individual challenges and goals. Then after I became captain, I had the challenge of how to do well with the team and how to improve the team's performances. As a selector the challenge was to groom emerging players and give them an opportunity to play. I also had to provide support to the ones who were already playing. I have actually enjoyed all these challenges and I am very happy to be involved in all these good things.

TDS: What do you think will be the biggest challenge in England in the upcoming World Cup?

AK: I think the format this time will be a bit difficult for Bangladesh. This time we will have to play well and win games. Then the opportunities will come to play in the semifinal or final. The challenge will be there because we have some injury concerns in our team, but the positive thing is that we have some good players and experienced players and young players who did well on the Ireland tour. But it is a long tour and the challenge will be to get every player fit for all the matches.

TDS: Fans are hoping for Bangladesh to reach the semifinals or even the final this time. Do you think it is realistic to hope for Bangladesh to go that far?

AK: It is natural that expectations rise when the team plays well. But this is a big pressure for the players. It is necessary to perform as a team, not only as individuals. Be it in bowling, batting or in fielding, everyone needs to give their best effort and then I think we can do anything.

TDS: There will be true wickets in England and the par score is being considered around 320 or 330. How important do you think the role of the batsmen will be here?

AK: Given the format we are playing in now, 300-plus scores are normal. Previously there would only be four players in the inner circle, but now there are five players in the inner circle. So, there is always a chance to score more runs. In England, targets of 320, 325 or 330 won't be a tough ask. But 350-plus targets will be difficult to chase. The bowlers need to do well as there is a high chance that the batsmen will dominate there. However, spinners might get some purchase at the end of June or in July.

Bangladesh are back at the scene of prior conquests, the stadium nestled in the middle of Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Now known as the Cardiff Wales Stadium, it is doubtful whether the former Sophia Gardens -- where they shocked Australia in 2005 and defeated New Zealand from a near hopeless position in 2017 -- will have enough inspiration to get them over the line against tournament favourites England in their World Cup match today.

Unlike yesterday, when the Tigers' practice session was reduced to an indoor one by incessant rain, the weather for the match starting at 10:30am (3:30pm Bangladesh time) is expected to be free from rain interruptions.

Both teams are coming into the match on the back of hard-fought losses. Bangladesh lost by two wickets to New Zealand at The Oval on Wednesday after being all out for a sub-par 244, and England fell 14 runs short of Pakistan's 348 for eight at Nottingham on Monday.

Other than their positive record at the ground, inspiration can also be drawn from the fact that the Tigers beat England in their last two World Cup games in 2011 and 2015. But it was the second loss that set England on the path to their current position of the team that plays lights-out cricket and aims to score 350-plus each time they walk out to bat.

That brand of cricket will make an interesting contrast to Bangladesh's. Before their opening match against South Africa, which they won by 21 runs, Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza talked about not chasing England's example and instead focusing on the brand that brought them success over the last four years. It is one more focused on building partnerships at a good rate, minimising risks with cricketing shots, taking singles rather than relying on big shots throughout the innings, and bowling as a unit to extract wickets through pressure. The bowling held up its end of the bargain against New Zealand, but the batting failed to deliver in all those aspects.

Even so, Mashrafe hinted that there are unlikely to be many changes to the eleven that played at The Oval unless conditions dictate otherwise.

"The plan is to change according to conditions, and I don't think so much change is going to help the team much," he said at the pre-match press conference. "But it depends, if it keep raining like this, we have to think about it. If not, then obviously, there is the management, as well. They will think about it. If someone will come with different plans, we will think about it."

England skipper Eoin Morgan talked about the possibility of playing an extra seamer by bringing in Liam Plunkett.

"Obviously another day where the wicket is under the covers, wickets that have been played on here so far have been a bit greener and probably seamer-friendly. So that's a potential, yeah," Morgan said.

The same move, bringing in Rubel Hossain, would be a brave one from Bangladesh. It was Rubel who won them the match against England in Adelaide with a four-wicket haul, but playing four seamers -- at the expense of off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz -- would be to ignore that England are weaker against spin. The other change, after Bangladesh's lower middle order failed to fire against New Zealand, could be to bring in Sabbir Rahman for Mosaddek Hossain at number seven.

However, Mashrafe seems to place value on the part-time off-spin of Mosaddek especially as Mahmudullah Riyad is unable to bowl because of a shoulder injury.

Like against South Africa, and indeed against New Zealand, it may all come down to whether Bangladesh can play their brand of cricket successfully. Even that may not be enough against a rampant England and like Mashrafe said yesterday, with conditions and fan support favouring the hosts, the Tigers will have to be one step ahead and play better than their opposition today.

Rain has been a constant companion of the Bangladesh team since their fourth World Cup match against Sri Lanka was washed out in Bristol on June 11, and it was a presence in Taunton yesterday during their first practice session since that game.

However, in their eagerness to get their World Cup campaign back on track and lift themselves from seventh position after four matches, 12 of the 15-man squad started practice in the afternoon drizzle at the Coopers Associates County Ground. The small ground will be the venue for the Tigers’ next match against the West Indies on June 17. The players missing from the optional practice session were Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das and Rubel Hossain. Shakib, who sustained a left thigh strain in the match against England on June 8, has been advised to rest and may join the team during practice today or tomorrow.

During practice itself, the Tigers appeared to have overcome the gloom of rain setting back their race to the semifinals, and were enjoying the warm-up game of keepy-uppy and their fielding drills. As the sun broke through batsmen like Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim were eager to get the net batting started as there was no telling how long the good weather would stay.

Apart from Shakib’s injury, there are lingering concerns regarding Mohammad Saifuddin’s back problem which first flared up during the warm-up match against India on May 28. Bangladesh bowling coach Courtney Walsh said yesterday that Saifuddin had played a couple of games ‘under duress’ but hoped that the two days of rest would be good enough to have the pace-bowling all-rounder back to 95 per cent fitness. Skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has been nursing hamstring trouble since the India match as well. Both players, however, looked fit enough during fielding practice, both diving around to take catches.

With the match still three days away, settling on a playing eleven was still a way off. The square boundaries in Taunton are short, which may play into West Indies’ power-hitters’ hands. One change could be to include an extra pacer in Rubel Hossain, but Walsh said that they would have to see the pitch closer to the match day to come to that decision.