Tigers' batting in focus against ‘deadly’ bowling

Bangladesh will take on Pakistan in their Asia Cup fixture at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium today, hoping to start their Super Four stage on the right foot.

Judging by the recent ODI record between the two sides, Bangladesh have an edge over Pakistan, having won four of the five last ODI meetings. The last ODI between the sides was played in the 2019 World Cup which Pakistan won but a lot has changed in recent years with Pakistan becoming a more stable ODI side in recent years.

The main threat of the Pakistan bowling attack is the pace trio of Shaheen Shah, Naseem Shah and Harris Rauf. All three are quick in the air, able to use swing in the air along with deviation off the surface.

What would be Bangladesh' opening combination to counter that early movement? Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Mohammad Naim gave the team a comfortable and solid start in the Afghanistan game. With Najmul Hossain Shanto ruled out, it remains to be seen whether the team management sticks to the opening combination of the Afghanistan game and slot Liton Das at number three in Shanto's position.

The team management have already shown that they can tinker with the batting lineup according to situation, sending in Tawhid Hridoy at three in the last game.

Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, cricket analyst and mentor to many national team stars, feels that the best two options should feature as openers.

"They have a deadly opening combination of bowlers in Shaheen and Naseem and they have a beautiful team environment. It's going to be a tough ask, no doubt," Fahim told The Daily Star.

"Without Shanto, especially in the build-up, it's a big setback. Shanto was an in-form batter who handles pace very well. Liton is equipped but he has been a bit out of touch and out of form recently. There would be some uncertainty at the top-order.

"The best two from Miraz, Naim and Liton should open as they would have the best opportunity to counter the swing. If we think about only left-right combinations instead of the best two to batters maybe we can be in trouble specifically for that. It could be Miraz-Liton or Miraz-Naim since the latter combination gave us a good partnership in the last game."

Fahim feels that Liton could be an option at number three. "It could be that Liton comes at three in Shanto's since it would mean that not much have to be changed apart from that position."

A big responsibility of the top-order in fact would be to counter the pace threat of Pakistan. Not losing wickets at the top would go a long way towards building a big total or chasing one down.

"I'm sure the team are planning how to make a big score. The batters such as Miraz and Naim are carrying confidence. If they do well, it would bolster the middle-order's possibilities of doing well since it's a good wicket," Fahim opined.

"If we can start well, then even if there is some shakiness due to Shanto's absence, it can be offset. What happened in the first game, when wickets fell and no one held the innings together, it felt like the team were lost. I don't feel that would happen. Apart from Hridoy, everyone has scored solidly this tournament and in case of a collapse, I expect the latter batters to rebuild. We will see a better character from the team against Pakistan.

"I don't feel the gap is too big between the two sides since our team has players with impactful performances. If these guys do well, it will be a good game tomorrow," he concluded.