'Nothing more to do but execute'

From a month-long Bangladesh Premier League to a T20I series against Zimbabwe, which was followed by specialised T20 training camps in Khulna and Chittagong, this format has been so ingrained into the Bangladesh national players that one wonders if there's any other preparatory measure they need to take.

And so when a calm Mashrafe Bin Mortaza told reporters that there was not much that the Tigers could do in the last three days leading to the Asia Cup, it did not come as a surprise.

“We can't really do anything new in these three days. One can't change his technique or learn something different in such a short time. We have practised a lot in the last one-and-a-half months and that is what we are counting on. If we are lucky, we can implement the plans that we tried in practice during the games,” said Mashrafe prior to the national team's training session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

With five pacers in the 15-member squad, one does not need to be an expert to suggest that the Tigers could depend a lot more on their pacers in the upcoming tournament. In fact, they have depended upon them throughout 2015.

The three-man spin attack with specialist turners was a norm that was broken last year and the squad this time around is expected to depend a lot more on the likes of Mustafizur Rahman and Al-Amin Hossain.

The duo looked quite good in the death overs against Zimbabwe and with the Mirpur wicket expected to provide plenty of bounce, things could get interesting.

The Tigers went to the National Bangla High School's Shaheed Minar in Mirpur yesterday to pay respect to the language martyrs on the momentous occasion of International Mother Language Day. PHOTO: FIROZ AHMED

“I think our pace attack has done well throughout 2015. In tournaments like the Asia Cup, the ICC will have a big say. So I believe the wickets will be quite sporting,” said Mashrafe.

“But considering the kind of position that we are in terms of ranking, we really can't depend just on one department. We have to improve in all three departments. It's not possible for us to focus on just one aspect,” he added. 

In terms of rankings, Bangladesh need to progress quite a bit in this format. However, considering their rise in the last year and the fact that the tournament is taking place in Dhaka, many actually believe that the hosts could reach the final. Former Pakistani greats Inzamam-Ul-Haq and Aquib Javed indicated that a few days back.

Mashrafe however was not thinking about any of that. All he wants his side to do is play good cricket.

“I don't believe that we are going out there to prove something to someone. We represent Bangladesh and we will try to play well for as long as possible, because that's what we believe in. And within this period, both good and bad things may happen.

“Our mental belief is really good at the moment. If we can replicate that feeling on the ground, a lot of good things can happen for us,” said Mashrafe.    

Before training yesterday, on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day, the national team paid their respects to the martyrs of the Language Movement by visiting a Shaheed Minar at the National Bangla High School in Mirpur.