Windies series a first step towards 2023 World Cup for Tigers

DHAKA  — Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo insisted that the forthcoming three-match ODI series is the first step towards the 2023 World for Tigers as they are looking for a settled unit for the cricket’s biggest extravaganza.

“The World Cup seems to be three years away but we know how quickly that goes. This is the first step towards the World Cup,” Domingo said here today during a virtual press conference.

“There might be one or two changes in batting positions with some guys batting in positions they haven’t batted before. But at least six to eight months before the World Cup, that batting line-up has to be settled and established. They have to play in the position that they will play in the World Cup.”

Bangladesh in fact will return to International cricket with this series following a long Covid-19-induced-break. According to Domingo, the series is the chance to execute the plan which is up in the sleeve.

“So now might be trying to find what we think is the best batting line-up. As we get within six to eight months of the World Cup, we settle on that and those guys playing in those positions leading into the tournament. By the time the tournament starts, they’d have played 20 games together in their particular role leading into the tournament. There isn’t going to be chopping and changing but looking at different options under different conditions, and then settling into something in the last year leading into the World Cup,” he added.

The series is particularly very important for Bangladesh as it is the part of ICC World Cup Super League. Bangladesh indeed will kick-off their qualification campaign for the 2023 World Cup through this series. Introduced last year to add context to ODI cricket, the Super League sees each side play four home and four away three-match series.

Therefore each and every point in this series is vital for Bangladesh’s aspiration to directly qualify for the next World Cup.

“It is a big series for us. World Cup qualifying points are up for grabs. We want to make sure that we can start our campaign really well. We are definitely focusing one game at a time. We want to start the series well,” Domingo said.

With Shakib back at the side after his ICC-imposed ban, Bangladesh got a combination with which they are comfortable to play.

Domingo hinted that the pitch won’t be entirely spin-oriented as the game will start at 11.30, a time in the winter season when early dew could give the fast bowlers a favour.

“It depends very much on conditions. We have Shakib in the side who will be bowling ten overs. In the sub-continent you always want to have one other full-on spinner. We need to decide who that is going to be. You always want to bowl twenty overs of spin in sub-continent conditions,” he pointed out.

“Maybe one or two part-timers. But you also need to make sure you have enough pacemen in case the wicket offers something to the fast bowlers.

Particularly it being the winter, 11:30am starts. There might be a bit of movement in the first hour with a little bit of dew and fog around. We need to make sure we cover both bases.”

Moreover with the New Zealand series coming up, Domingo said depending on spinners in this series entirely would be fatal. According to him, the pacers need to get some attention to prepare them for the New Zealand series.

“There’s no doubt that we always wanted to play at least three seamers in our 50-over side. There’s some exciting young prospects at the moment. Guys like Shoriful and Hasan Mahmud. Rubel and Mustafiz have been bowling really well. Taskin has shown improvement. There’s a whole host of guys pushing for places,” he said.

“We need to make sure we provide them the opportunity to play one-day cricket. I think we can’t just be a team that plays spinners all the time. We are going to New Zealand in six weeks’ time. There I can assure you we can play only one spinner so we have to make sure we have seamers who are ready to play international cricket. I can’t see myself playing an ODI without three seamers,” he added.BSS