‘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. Undoubtedly one of the most talented cricketers to have emerged in Bangladesh's cricket history, Mohammad Ashraful has singlehandedly led Bangladesh to numerous victories. Ashraful, who captained Bangladesh in all three formats of the game -- Tests, ODIs and T20Is -- has also had many impactful performances in the three World Cups -- in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 editions -- he featured in for the Tigers. The 34-year old might have been amongst the senior members playing in this edition of the World Cup had he not been involved in spot fixing controversies that saw him receive an eight-year ban from international cricket in 2014. In an interview with The Daily Star's Nabid Yeasin, Ashraful shared some of his World Cup memories and more.

The Daily Star (TDS): What is the difference between playing in a World Cup and any other series or tournament?

Mohammad Ashraful (MA): The World Cup is different as it can turn a regular player into a star. Unlike a normal series or any other tournament, a player gets more recognition and also gets an individual identity in the world of cricket by doing well in a World Cup. During a World Cup, everyone wants to know which players are doing well and which are not. That's why it's a great opportunity for any player.

TDS: You put in a lot of good performances in the World Cup. How did you feel after such performances, especially after that 87-run knock against South Africa in 2007?

MA: We played very poorly in my first World Cup as we lost against everyone, including teams like Canada and Kenya. I scored a fifty in that tournament against New Zealand and it was the first fifty of my career.

Then again, till now, result wise we consider the 2015 World Cup as our most successful campaign as we reached the quarterfinals that time. However, according to me, the 2007 World Cup was the most successful. This is because although we won three matches in the 2007, 2011 and 2015 World Cups, in 2007 we defeated two big teams in India and South Africa. At the time, South Africa was no. 1 in rankings. Although reaching the quarterfinal in 2015 was a big achievement, if we consider team performances then I think the 2007 World Cup was the best one.

Defeating South Africa was a special feeling since we could not play well in the first two games against New Zealand and Australia after we had reached the second round. So after we scored 249 against South Africa and our bowling and fielding won us the game…it was a great feeling to have done that. There were many who questioned our achievement, saying that we should not have qualified for the second round but after we defeated South Africa, we proved that we qualified because we deserved it.

TDS: Any other memorable experiences in the World Cup?

MA: During our first game in the tournament, I don't know why but India's coach at that time, Greg Chappell, came to me before the match when we were shaking hands and told me 'all the best for this World Cup'. That was like a different kind of motivation for me at the time. And by the grace of the Almighty, I remained unbeaten in the first three games of the first round. I scored an unbeaten seven against India after coming in to bat at number seven. Then in the next game against Sri Lanka I scored an unbeaten 44 after coming in to bat at six. In the following match against Bermuda I remained unbeaten on 29. So I remained unbeaten in the first three games and then again in the Super Eight stage. I was named the player-of-the-match for scoring 87 runs against South Africa. So in total I won the player-of-the match award twice -- against Bermuda and South Africa -- in that World Cup and it felt great.

TDS: What are your views on the current World Cup squad and Bangladesh's chances this time around?

MA: It is an amazing squad but it would be very good if a few players were totally fit as it would have filled in our lackings. Then again, the ones who were picked were almost automatic choices. Everyone dreams to see Bangladesh play in the semifinal or final after the last World Cup but the format is different as every team will play against each other so there are no weaker teams this time. In the last three World Cups there were two or three weaker teams grouped with Bangladesh. In 2007, Bermuda was a weaker team in our group. In 2011 we got two weaker teams in Ireland and Scotland and in 2015 we had Afghanistan and Scotland. But this time there are no weaker teams. Even Afghanistan's recent performances make them a team who are on the same level as us. So this World Cup will be a big challenge for us and if we are to emulate our last three World Cup performances then we need to play very well.

1992 was a time when the Bangladesh cricket fraternity were dreaming of World Cup qualification; a time when the current national team's star batsman Tamim Iqbal was only a three-year-old boy. So naturally the memories of that event hardly create any buzz for Bangladesh cricket or within Tamim. But the format from that trip down memory lane certainly means a lot to them these days.

Tamim is now one of the stalwarts of a Bangladesh cricket and the Tigers have proven themselves a strong force in ODI cricket, which is why they have reason to think about the format -- 10 teams in a round robin league from where the top four finishers will advance to the semifinals.

Tamim was excited as Bangladesh would get the chance to play against all the teams in the tournament, but he reminded everyone of the challenge of this format -- which was last featured in the 1992 World Cup.

"Personally, I am very excited. If any team wants to win the trophy then they have to play good cricket throughout the tournament. This format will be very challenging. It's possible to qualify by winning one or two matches in a group system, but here you may have to win five or six to qualify. So it's very challenging for us. You have to play good cricket for a long period of time," observed Tamim when speaking to reporters at the BCB headquarters in Mirpur yesterday.

However, the left-hander also emphasised on the requirement for more focus on international assignments before the 2019 ICC World Cup, to be held in England, as he believes good performances in those series will give the Tigers the much-needed confidence to play good cricket in the mega-event.

"If we actually want to make the 2019 World Cup a memorable one then the most important thing is to play good cricket in the coming series as the World Cup is still one year away. If we win those series and play good cricket then we will go [into the World Cup] with confidence. I don't think it's important to talk about the World Cup at this moment although the ultimate goal is the World Cup," he said.

He was also happy with the Bangladesh Cricket Board's go-slow policy regarding the appointment of a new head coach.

"It's really nice that they [the BCB] are not hurrying. It's very important to take time in getting a suitable coach," said Tamim, who started running yesterday and hopes to be fit before the start of the national camp on May 13.

Former England captain Eoin Morgan said winning the Cricket World Cup in India would be a bigger achievement than when he guided the side to victory at the 50-overs showpiece on home soil four years ago.

Morgan, who retired from international cricket last year, said white-ball captain Jos Buttler had not been given the same level of support in the build-up to this World Cup that England has had in the past.

"Between 2015 and 2019, our sole focus was trying to win the ODI World Cup at home," Morgan wrote in a column on Sky Sports on Tuesday. "There was a clear emphasis on having your best players available in the year leading up and trying to get absolute role clarity in every position possible.

"Jos has not had that."

While England are the reigning champions in both the ODI and Twenty20 versions of the World Cup, Morgan said there had been a switch in focus to the longer format of the game.

"There has been a complete change in mindset in English cricket where test cricket is now the out-and-out priority," he said.

"Only on very few occasions in Twenty20 internationals and ODIs has Jos had his best side available. This has been an Ashes year, a huge year for Ben Stokes and his red-ball team."

Morgan added that the reduced support for white-ball cricket, coupled with the challenge of playing a tournament in unfamiliar conditions, meant this year's World Cup is a more challenging prospect for England.

"All things considered, it would without a doubt be a bigger achievement for England to win this World Cup than when we won in 2019," Morgan said.

"The nature of the schedule has not allowed them to have the type of preparation they would like and being away from home, especially in India where India are so strong, is tough.

"Winning here would carry a lot more weight than winning at home."

England begin their World Cup defence when they take on New Zealand in the tournament opener in Ahmedabad on Thursday.