Twenty20
IPL 2021: Will Shakib Al Hasan Play in a crucial MI vs. KKR match?
Kolkata Knight Riders resumed their IPL 2021 campaign in Abu Dhabi with a 9-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore. Kolkata's bowling unit was outstanding in the match. Bangalore were bowled out for 92 runs, and Kolkata needed only 10 overs to reach the target. Kolkata could deploy their winning eleven in the MI vs. KKR match on Thursday (September 23) in Abu Dhabi, thus Shakib Al Hasan's chance of making the playing XI is minimal. On the other hand, Mumbai Indians restarted their season with a 20-run loss against Chennai Super Kings. They will be eager to regain their winning rhythm.
Read: IPL 2021: Scenarios of Playoffs Qualification for Eight Teams
MI vs. KKR: Team News
With 8 points, the Mumbai Indians are in fifth place, while the Kolkata Knight Riders are in sixth place with 6 points. The 14th season of the IPL is currently at a pivotal moment, with each team vying for a top spot in the standings. Losing a match means a big drop in the points table, and net run rate is an important consideration as well.
Two of Mumbai Indians' key players Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya did not participate in the match against Chennai Super Kings. These two might play in the match against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Aside from that, any changes to the Mumbai playing XI are unlikely.
Read: Kohli to step down from Bangalore captaincy after IPL season
Most runs (Mumbai): Rohit Sharma (250) | Most Wickets (Mumbai): Rahul Chahar (11)
Probable Playing XI (Mumbai):
Rohit Sharma (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Adam Milne, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
The Kolkata Knight Riders are unlikely to make any changes to their lineup. For Kolkata, Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, and Lockie Ferguson were all outstanding with the ball against Bangalore. Batsmen had little trouble chasing down the target after a superb bowling performance. As a result, Eoin Morgan and the rest of the team will put their faith in these players to confront the defending IPL champion Mumbai Indians. Shakib Al Hasan will have to wait till the next match if Kolkata stick with the same lineup. Shakib has to play more regularly in order to thrive in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Read: Mustafizur departs for Dubai to play IPL
Most runs (Kolkata): Nitesh Rana (201) | Most Wickets (Kolkata): Andre Russell (10)
Probable Playing XI (Kolkata):
Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (captain), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy
Match Time (MI vs KKR): 8 pm (Bangladesh Standard Time) | Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium (Abu Dhabi)
Read:IPL 2021: Those who are at the Top Before the Tournament Resume
Head-to-Head: MI vs. KKR
Mumbai Indians have an excellent recent record against Kolkata Knight Riders. They have won 12 times in the past 13 meetings with Kolkata. So, Knight Riders have recently found it difficult to compete with the Indians.
Both teams have played each other 28 times in total. Mumbai leads the head-to-head record with 22 victories, while Kolkata have only won 6 games.
Read: Shakib, Mustafizur unlikely to play in the remainder of IPL 2021
Bottom Line
Kolkata Knight Riders are in desperate need of a win, as they have only 6 points from their first eight games. Knight Riders must win at least four more matches in the next six in order to qualify for the playoffs. It's crucial for the Kolkata team to keep their winning streak intact. On the other hand, Mumbai Indians have 8 points from 8 games and need to win at least three of their remaining matches. Therefore, we may anticipate a competitive clash between these two teams, with the winner moving up the IPL 2021 points table.
ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Favorites to qualify for semifinals from Group 2
The T20 World Cup 2021 is slated to begin late next month. The seventh edition of the ICC’s shorter format World Cup will be co-hosted by the UAE and Oman. The competition's super 12 round will begin on October 23rd, and it will be split into two groups of six teams each. A number of Asian teams will participate in group 2. Which two teams from Group 2 of the super 12 have the best probability of reaching the semifinals in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021? The Group 2 favorites to advance to the semi-finals are discussed in this article.
Favorites to advance to the semifinals from group 2 of the Super 12 round
India
India’s captain Virat Kohli has decided to step down his role after the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. His announcement has surprised many cricket fans around the world given the fact that he is doing well as Team India skipper. But Virat Kohli’s decision will inspire Indian players to do well in the upcoming event. Indian selectors also included experienced off-spinner Ravi Ashwin in the squad who last featured against the Windies back in 2017.
India's T20 World Cup campaign will begin on October 24 in Dubai with a match against Pakistan. This will be a vital contest for India along with the match against New Zealand. The Indian team is expected to finish first in this group because they have some serious talents in the squad.
India's five key players
Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Read T20 World Cup 2021: Favorites to qualify for semifinals from Group 1
Pakistan
Pakistan are always a tough opponent in the limited-overs format. Led by Babar Azam, this team does have some real potential. However, they must play with courage in order to maintain consistent performance throughout the tournament.
Pakistan will be able to solidify their strong position in the points table if they can defeat India in their opening match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh will also be tough opponents for Pakistan.
Therefore, Pakistan's prospects in the competition will be determined by their consistency. However, they should advance to the next round with their present lineup.
Pakistan's five key players
Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali
Read Youth ODI series: Afghanistan register first win with a Mankad
New Zealand
New Zealand are one of the favorites to win the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 this year. The New Zealand Test squad just won the maiden ICC Test Championship and their limited-overs team competed in the 2015 and 2019 ICC ODI World Cup finals. Therefore, they have a high level of confidence in comparison to the other competitors in the tournament.
Kane Williamson-led the Blackcaps Twenty20 International team is well equipped for the ICC T20 World Cup with some of the best T20 players in their roster. New Zealand will face two Asian powers as its main opponents in the Group stage. Two teams from India, Pakistan, and New Zealand are most likely to advance in the World Cup semifinals.
New Zealand's five key players
Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Tim Southee
Bangladesh
Bangladesh are expected to finish first in Group B in the qualifying round. Bangladesh's chances against strong opponents in the Super 12 are slim; since they will likely face New Zealand, India, and Pakistan in the first round.
Senior players will have to shoulder the majority of the burden If Bangladesh are to proceed to the next round of the tournament. Bangladesh’s batting will have to play the most crucial role in the tournament because their batting performance hasn't been up to par recently. Overall, Bangladesh have a good chance in two matches, but qualifying for the first knockout phase will be difficult.
Bangladesh's five key players
Mahmudullah Riyad, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad Saifuddin
Read NZ abandons cricket tour of Pakistan over security concerns
Afghanistan
Afghanistan are a very competitive T20 team. They have the ability to beat any team on their day, but they have yet to demonstrate their full potential in the ICC's major tournament. Afghanistan will get a wonderful opportunity to exhibit their talent on this occasion, although qualifying for the next stage will be difficult.
Afghanistan’s main target would be to ensure at least two wins and if possible, make one or two upset. Rashid Khan is their superstar cricketer and he can inspire Afghanistan to excel their performance in the main event.
Afghanistan's five key players
Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad
Read Virat Kohli to step down as India's T20 skipper
Verdict
After looking at the teams' strengths, it's clear that India, Pakistan, and New Zealand are the favorites to go to the semifinals. Furthermore, both Bangladesh and Afghanistan have a good possibility of doing well during the campaign. Teams must find their best rhythm in order to put up a consistent performance during the main event. Group 2 is likely to be very competitive but the team with the best overall performance will progress to the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 semifinals.
ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Bangladesh Team needs to improve three things before the tournament starts
The UAE and Oman will host the seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup in the next month. A total of 16 countries will compete in this competition. The top eight teams in the ICC T20I team rankings have qualified for the Super 12s. The remaining eight teams will be split into two groups to play qualifiers in order to be eligible for the Super 12s. Bangladesh team is hoping to do well in this year's competition. However, there are three things Bangladesh need to work on before the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 which are discussed in this article.
ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Things that Bangladesh Team Needs to Improve
Mahmudullah Riyad-led Bangladesh team will compete in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Only Tamim Iqbal will not partake in the main event among the senior players. Let's look at the areas that Bangladesh must address before the main event.
The Top order's Consistent Performance
The ICC encourages batsmen to score runs during the main event in order to attract spectators. Therefore, all four T20 World Cup venues will likely contain sporting pitches. It is expected that some run-fest contest will take place in this event and the Bangladesh team management would be prepared for this.
Read:Youth ODI series: Bangladesh look for series win against Afghanistan Tuesday
Bangladesh's first task is to ensure that the top order performs consistently. Half of the job will be done for the team tigers if the top order guarantees the type of start Bangladesh expects.
In the absence of veteran Tamim Iqbal, one of Bangladesh's openers would have to shoulder extra responsibility to anchor the innings during the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Because the openers can set up the platform for Bangladesh innings.
We saw how Bangladesh's top order struggled in both the Australian and New Zealand series. Liton Das and Mohammad Naim were the only opening duo to reach 50 runs in the second match of New Zealand series. They made a 59-run partnership, and Bangladesh scored 141/6. The only time Bangladesh scored 140 or more runs in the previous ten T20Is.
Read BAN vs. NZ T20I Series 2021: Report Card for Bangladesh Team
Mohammad Naim is likely to start the innings for Bangladesh in the World Cup, given his recent performances. Naim didn't play any big knock In the past three series, but he made sure that he stayed at the crease till the death overs.
Naim will be paired with either Liton Das or Soumya Sarkar in the World Cup. Because in the previous series, neither of them had been consistent. Whoever opens the innings for Bangladesh will be responsible for increasing the run rate at the start of the innings, while Naim's task will be to stay at the crease till the end.
Bangladesh's star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has struggled with the bat since returning to international cricket in January. Shakib Al Hasan was in great touch with the bat at the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, assisting Bangladesh in winning some matches. Shakib's batting will be hoped to re-ignite and enable Bangladesh achieve something special in the world cup.
Read:Bangladesh continue domination against Afghanistan in U-19 series
Power Hitting in Slog Overs
Bangladesh are short on power hitters in the death overs. That is why, Bangladesh usually fail to post a large total despite a strong start. As a result, they will need quality hitters in the middle order to help them accelerate run rates and put up a competitive score.
Bangladesh have Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, and Captain Mahmudullah Riyad in the middle order. Death overs are crucial in T20 cricket, especially when it comes to scoring a competitive total. Everyone should be able to hit big shot when required.
Nurul Hasan and Afif Hossain have shown encouraging performances in recent series. We should anticipate them to go all out during the forthcoming competition. In addition, Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim would be vital for Bangladesh.
Read:See what we do well, not our errors, Shakib tells fans
Effective Bowling Performance
Bangladesh's bowlers must maintain a level of consistency. The bowlers' performances in the New Zealand and Australia series will not be replicated in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Because the pitches were heavily stacked in favor of the spinners. Even the pacers had rattled the batters using the sluggish nature of the wickets.
Mustafzur Rahman had shown his ability with the ball. Pacers Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin also had good outing. Among the spinners, Nasum Ahmed got the headlines most of the time with his brilliant spin bowling. Mahedi Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan did their job well.
However, we must keep in mind that the pitches in the ICC T20 World Cup would be more difficult for the bowlers. Batsmen may find ways to score runs, while bowlers would struggle to control run rates.
Read ESPNcricinfo’s Mohamad Isam to conduct online sports journalism course
Many cricket analysts were dissatisfied with the decision to offer bowling-friendly surfaces in both the Australia and New Zealand series. Bangladesh's think tank, particularly the bowling coaches, must plan a strategy to overcome the hurdle in the Wolrd Cup event.
The key task for Bangladesh bowlers will be to prevent run flow both in the power play and in the death overs. Bowlers must master the art of picking up wickets on flat tracks. They need to determine what kind of bowling may pose problems for the hitters on batting-friendly surfaces. Bangladesh bowlers will play to their full capacity if they can adjust to the conditions.
Read:Women in Afghanistan: Taliban Government to Ban Women's Sports in Afghanistan
Bottom Line
Bangladesh team's confidence is sky-high after three consecutive T20I series victories against Zimbabwe, Australia, and New Zealand respectively. Not everyone is pleased with the pitches Bangladesh played against those opponents. Many pundits believe that spin wickets only helped Bangladesh win two cricket series against two formidable opponents. As a result, Bangladesh's preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 was insufficient. Bangladesh have a chance to reach the championship's semifinals if they play to their best ability. However, they must address the three things mentioned in this article prior to the major event.
Read Sheikh Kamal Memorial T20 Cricket promotes Bangladesh-US ties: Envoy
BAN vs. NZ 2021: Fourth Match Preview
Bangladesh and New Zealand will play the fourth match of the five-match Twenty20 International series on Wednesday (September 8). Bangladesh comfortably won the series-opener on a surface that favored the spinners. However, the pitches were better in the previous two matches. New Zealand performed well on those surfaces and won the third one. The curator is set to make a similar pitch for the fourth encounter. Bangladesh's players will have to give it their best performance to win this T20I series against New Zealand. The fourth match preview of the BAN vs. NZ 2021 T20I series has been discussed in this article.
Read: Mushfiqur opts to quit wicket-keeping in T20Is: Domingo
Bangladesh’s Team News
Bangladesh openers comparatively have performed well in the series. Naim-Liton pair did manage to form a 50-plus partnership in the second match, which helped Bangladesh to put up a fighting score to defend. Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad played his part in the first two matches, while Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan both flopped in the previous match.
Senior players, as well as the middle order, must perform their roles properly if Bangladesh want to put pressure on New Zealand's bowling unit.
Mahedi Hasan and Nasum Ahmed are having a good series. They have made excellent use of the conditions and have consistently taken wickets for Bangladesh.
Read:New Zealand bounce back as Tigers suffer first defeat
Shakib Al Hasan and Musafizur Rahman have contributed their part with the ball. Mustafizur Rahman has reached 200 T20 wickets, while Shakib Al Hasan is only two wickets away from being the T20I's leading wicket-taker.
Middle-order batsman Afif Hossain has struggled in this series. It's possible that Mosaddek Hossain/Soumya Sarkar will take his place in the fourth match. Apart from that, no more changes to the playing XI are anticipated.
Predicted XI (Bangladesh Team)
Mohammad Naim, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad (captain), Nurul Hasan (wicket-keeper), Afif Hossain/Mosaddek Hossain/Soumya Sarkar, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed
New Zealand’s Team News
New Zealand skipper Tom Latham has been a revelation in this series after making his T20 return. He has played a couple of praiseworthy innings in this series. Aside from him, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell, and the top order all batted well in the previous encounter. They will have to do a better job in the next game.
Read:Bangladesh require 129 to wrap up series vs New Zealand
New Zealand spinners have outperformed Bangladesh spinners in the series. Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, and Cole McConchie have caused a lot of difficulties to Bangladesh batters. Bangladesh batsmen need to be cautious and sensible against them. New Zealand could stick with the same playing lineup as in the third game.
Predicted XI (New Zealand Team)
Rachin Ravindra, Finn Allen, Tom Latham (captain & wicket-keeper), Colin de Grandhomme, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Cole McConchie, Doug Bracewell, Ajaz Patel, Hamish Bennett, Matt Henry
Pitch and Weather Report
The surface of the fourth match of the BAN vs. NZ 2021 T20I series will benefit slower bowlers. However, batters who spend time in the middle can find a way to score. The weather in Dhaka will most likely be partly overcast in the afternoon on Wednesday (September 8), but there is no chance of rain. The New Zealand team has already acclimated to the conditions and they are poised to cause another upset against the host team.
Read: New Zealand opt to bat first against Bangladesh in 3rd T20I
Bottom Line
New Zealand will try heart and soul to level the series after a great effort in the do-or-die third match of the BAN vs. NZ 2021 series. The Blackcaps will go all out to beat the tigers in the fourth match to stay remain in the series. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will have a great chance to win a bilateral T20I series for the first time against New Zealand. They can win the series against the Kiwis with one game in hand if the players are able to keep their composure during the contest. Overall, cricket fans anticipate an exciting encounter between Bangladesh and New Zealand.
BAN vs. NZ Series 2021: Mahmudullah Becomes Bangladesh’s Most Successful T20I Captain
Bangladesh met Zimbabwe in their maiden Twenty20 International match on November 28, 2006, at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna. Bangladesh's inaugural T20I match was captained by Shahriar Nafees, and it was the only cricket format in which Bangladesh won their first match. Bangladesh have played 109 T20I matches since then, winning 40 and losing 67 of them. Bangladesh have had seven T20I captains so far, with Mahmudullah Riyad leading the way with 12 victories. How Mahmudullah Riyad becomes Bangladesh's most successful T20I captain in the ongoing 5-match bilateral BAN vs. NZ 2021 series is discussed in this article.
Bangladesh National Cricket Team's T20I Captaincy Record
Left-arm opener Shahriar Nafees led Bangladesh to victory in their maiden T20I match against Zimbabwe in 2006. Interestingly, he did not captain Bangladesh for the second time. Opener Liton Das has also captained Bangladesh for a single match.
Mahmudullah Riyad became the most successful T20I captain in history after winning the series opener against New Zealand on Wednesday (September 1). Mahmudullah Riyad has won 12 of his 24 matches as captain, giving him the highest winning percentage.
Read: Bangladesh-New Zealand T20 series: PM greets Tigers for going 2-0 up
Surprisingly, 9 of his 12 victories have come in the last 10 matches, which is an incredible number. It indicates that Mahmudullah has improved as a skipper and he has performed very well in the recent T20I series.
Seven players have captained Bangladesh in the Twenty20 format. Mashrafe Mortaza has led Bangladesh the most times (28), followed by Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, and Mohammad Ashraful.
Bangladesh have been winning consistently since Mushfiqur Rahim took over as captain of the national team in 2011. Bangladesh have won eight games and lost fourteen under his leadership. Mushfiqur Rahim is Bangladesh's third-best captain in terms of victories and without a doubt one of the finest captains in the country's history.
Also read: Tigers do enough to see off Latham's Black Caps in 2nd T20I
Mohammad Ashraful was the captain of Bangladesh's T20 team from 2007 to 2009. Bangladesh only won two games out of 11 when he was captain.
Bangladesh won the fourth-most T20I matches (7) under Shakib Al Hasan's leadership. Shakib captained Bangladesh in 21 games, winning 33.33 percent of the time. When Shakib was in charge, though, Bangladesh lost 14 games.
From 2014 to 2017, Mashrafe Mortaza captained Bangladesh in the most number of matches. The Bangladesh national cricket team improved tremendously under his leadership. Bangladesh won ten games when he was captain. Mashrafe also suffered the most losses (17) while captaining the Bangladesh national team.
Read Afghanistan U-19 team's tour of Bangladesh on: BCB
Twenty20 International Captaincy Record for Bangladesh
Player
Match
Won
Loss
%
Mashrafe Mortaza
28
10
17
37.03%
Mahmudullah Riyad
24
12
12
50%
Mushfiqur Rahim
23
08
14
36.36%
Shakib Al Hasan
21
07
14
33.33%
Mohammad Ashraful
11
02
09
18.18%
Liton Das
01
0
0
0.00
Shahriar Nafees
01
01
0
100%
Read ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021: Five Potential Replacements of Tamim Iqbal
BAN vs. NZ T20 Series: As It Stands
Mahmudullah Riyad became Bangladesh cricket's most successful T20I skipper after winning the low-scoring opening match of the BAN vs. NZ 2021 series. He extended his lead by winning the second match on Friday, (September 3).
Bangladesh will seal the series with two games left if they win the third match. Therefore, the third match is crucial for New Zealand to stay firm in the series.
There was heavy criticism regarding the slow pitch that took place in the opening match. New Zealand only scored 60 runs, and Bangladesh had to play 15 overs to reach the target. Following the first match, BCB’s Operations Committee Akram Khan told the media that they will prepare a better wicket for the second match to ensure a run-fest.
Read BAN vs. NZ 2021: Bangladesh Clinch Their First T20I Win Against New Zealand
Thankfully, the curator did a good job, putting up a better pitch for the second encounter. Batting first, Bangladesh made 141 runs in the second match and successfully defended the total. Bangladesh won the match by four runs in a closely contested encounter. We can anticipate New Zealand to play even better cricket on a more competitive surface in the third match.
Verdict
The team has improved under Mahmudullah Riyad's leadership after analyzing Bangladesh's T20I captains' performances. Mahmudullah has a genuine chance to improve his statistics as a skipper in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand. Bangladesh are presently leading the series 2-0, with three more matches to be played. Bangladesh's main goal would be to win the series and then try to sweep New Zealand.
Mahmudullah's captaincy record will significantly improve if Bangladesh win the remaining matches in the BAN vs. NZ 2021 series. Bangladesh's players will gain confidence as a result of the series win ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in October.
Read Shakib admits pitch even 'tougher' than Australia series
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021: Five Potential Replacements of Tamim Iqbal
Bangladesh's most dependable opening batsman and ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal announced his unavailability for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 squad in a Facebook video message on Wednesday (September 1). The experienced opener feels it will be unfair to young players who have been performing well for the last one year and have earned a place in the T20 team. He is also unprepared for the approaching mega-event as he hasn't played T20 cricket since March 2020. In this article, we have explored five potential replacements of Tamim Iqbal in the Bangladesh team for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021.
Tamim Iqbal's T20I Career at a Glance
Tamim Iqbal holds the majority of Bangladesh's batting records in all formats. Tamim Iqbal keeps the records for most international runs (14,155), most international centuries (24), most international half-centuries (89), and most ODI runs (7,666). Tamim also holds the record for the most runs scored in a T20I innings for Bangladesh, with 103 against Oman.
Tamim Iqbal’s T20I statistics
Match
Inn
Runs
HS
S/R
Ave
100s
78
78
1,758
103*
116.96
24.08
1
Read: BAN vs. AUS 2021: How Bangladesh Team Shapes Up Without Tamim, Mushfiqur?
Five Players Who Can Replace Tamim Iqbal in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021
5) Nurul Hasan Sohan
T20I Stats: M: 18 | Inn: 18 | Runs: 148 | HS: 30* | S/R: 119.35 | 50s: 0
Nurul Hasan Sohan may not be Bangladesh's first pick to start the innings. He is more fitted to accelerate the run rates in the middle order. However, Nurul Hasan has played at the top of the order on the domestic circuit in T20 cricket. Bangladesh's team management may opt to open the innings with Nurul Hasan if anyone fails to deliver at the T20 World Cup.
4) Mahedi Hasan
T20I Stats: M: 15 | Inn: 11 | Runs: 119 | HS: 23 | S/R: 99.16 | 50s: 0
Mahedi Hasan has a solid track record as an opener in the domestic circuit. As a result, there's no reason why he shouldn't be considered to open the innings for Bangladesh in the forthcoming T20 World Cup 2021. He is also an excellent off-spinner. Bangladesh can incorporate an extra batsman in the middle order if he plays as an opener.
Read: Tamim to skip T20 World Cup, but he's not retiring
3) Soumya Sarkar
T20I Stats: M: 61| Inn: 61| Runs: 1,105| HS: 68| S/R: 123.60 | 50s: 5
Soumya Sarkar is one of the best available options for Bangladesh in the opening position. He has been used as an opener in recent years. Unfortunately, Soumya Sarkar is inconsistent with the bat, which is why he has yet to secure his spot in Bangladesh's playing XI. However, with Tamim Iqbal out of the World Cup, Soumya will almost likely start the innings for Bangladesh.
2) Mohammad Naim
T20I Stats: M: 18 | Inn: 18 | Runs: 466 | HS: 81 | S/R: 109.90 | 50s: 2
Mohammad Naim is almost certain to start as an opener in the 2021 World Cup. However, he hasn't been able to deliver consistent results with the bat lately. This tall aggressive-minded left-hand batsman needs to step up in the World Cup. Mohammad Naim can play the anchor role in batting for Bangladesh during the mega event.
Read: Tamim to miss home series against Australia, New Zealand
1) Liton Das
T20I Stats: M: 34 | Inn: 33| Runs: 647| HS: 61| S/R: 133.40 | 50s: 4
Liton Kumar Das has been one of Bangladesh's most successful opening batsmen in recent years. He is also known for being one of country's most elegant batsmen. Liton has struggled to find his rhythm with the bat since international cricket resumed at the beginning of this year. Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar will compete for an opening spot in Bangladesh's playing XI for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021.
Read:Tamim, Shohan guide Tigers to ODI series sweep against Zimbabwe
Verdict
Tamim Iqbal's T20I career stats shows that he is irreplaceable in the Bangladesh team when compared to the records of other Bangladesh top-order batsmen. Tamim Iqbal is the only Bangladesh batsman to have scored a century in all formats, and he can help to build the innings. Shakib or Mushfiqur will certainly play the anchor role for Bangladesh at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 in the absence of Tamim Iqbal. Whoever replaces Tamim Iqbal will have to play sensibly during the World Cup. Because advancing to the knockout stage would largely depend on the performance of Bangladesh's top-order batsmen.
BAN vs. NZ 2021: Milestones Bangladesh Cricketers Can Achieve in the T20I Series
The bilateral T20I series between Bangladesh and New Zealand will begin on Wednesday (September 1). This will be Bangladesh's last bilateral series before the Twenty20 World Cup. While New Zealand will play one more series in Pakistan. Bangladesh will have a genuine chance to beat New Zealand in a T20 format for the first time since the conditions are in their favor. Individually, cricketers will have the opportunity to achieve some personal milestones while playing in the series. In this article, we have listed a few anticipated milestones that Bangladesh cricketers can achieve during the BAN vs. NZ 2021 T20I series.
Read:New Zealand’s Ajaz confident of adapting to local conditions well
Milestones that Can be Achieved in the BAN vs. NZ 2021 Series
1000 International Runs
All-rounder Mosaddek Hossain needs only 16 runs to get 1,000 international runs. Mossadek has 984 runs in 59 international matches.
600 International Wickets
Bangladesh's best all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan needs only 6 wickets to get 600 international wickets. Shakib has collected 594 wickets in 357 appearances for Bangladesh.
200 International Wickets
Experienced bowler Rubel Hossain only needs 7 wickets to get 200 international wickets for Bangladesh. Rubel has 193 wickets in 159 appearances for Bangladesh.
150 International Wickets
Taijul Islam needs only three wickets to achieve the 150 international wickets landmark. In 44 appearances for Bangladesh, Taijul has 147 wickets.
Read:ENG vs. IND 2021:England Clinch Their First Win in ICC Test championship
150 International Catches
Mahmudullah Riyad needs six more catches to attain 150 international catches for Bangladesh.
100 International Catches
Only two catches are required for Shakib Al Hasan to reach 100 international catches for Bangladesh.
50 International Catches
Liton Das just needs three more catches to achieve 50 international catches for Bangladesh.
350 International Appearances
Mahmudullah Riyad has to play three more matches to reach 350 international appearances for Bangladesh.
Read:BAN vs. NZ Series 2021: Who Would Make Bangladesh-New Zealand Combined T20I XI?
2,000 T20I Runs for Bangladesh
Shakib Al Hasan has 1,718 runs for Bangladesh in 84 Twenty20 International matches. He only needs 282 runs to achieve the 2,000-run milestone in the T20 format.
100 T20I International Appearances
Mahmudullah Riyad has to participate in three more games to become the first Bangladeshi player to play 100 Twenty20 International matches.
50 T20I International Appearances
Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman needs two more games to earn 50 T20I appearances for Bangladesh.
Read: Tigers start training ahead of NZ T20Is
BAN vs. NZ 2021: Series Fixtures and Squads
Bangladesh and New Zealand will play a five-match bilateral series under a strict bio-bubble setup. The matches will be held on September 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10. All matches will be held at the SBNCS in Mirpur because both cricket boards have agreed to reduce the threat of coronavirus infection.
Squads
Bangladesh
Mahmudullah Riyad (captain), Mohammad Naim, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar, Mosaddek Hossain, Afif Hossain, NurulHasan, MahediHasan, Shamim Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam, Taijul Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Aminul Islam
New Zealand
Tom Latham (Captain &wk), Finn Allen, Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell (wk), Doug Bracewell, Colin de Grandhomme, Jacob Duffy, Scott Kuggeleijn, Cole McConchie, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, RachinRavindra, Ben Sears, Blair Tickner, Will Young
Read:Blackcaps arrive in Dhaka for T20 series
Bottom Line
All matches in the BAN vs. NZ 2021 series will be played in Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla national cricket stadium in order to maintain the covid-19 health protocols. Therefore, players will benefit as the matches will be played on similar pitches. Bangladesh cricketers will be able to reach the above-mentioned milestones if they can maintain consistency throughout the T20I series. However, the main goal for Bangladesh campaign would be to win the series against this second-string New Zealand team.
T20 Ranking : How Bangladesh Can Become No. 5 T20I Team at the End of the New Zealand series?
The New Zealand Cricket Board has permitted its players to participate in the rest of the IPL to enhance their preparation because the T20 World Cup will also be held in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Therefore, the NZC will send a second-string New Zealand squad to play Bangladesh in a five-match bilateral T20I series. Bangladesh have a good chance of winning the series if they play smart cricket. Bangladesh have also a chance to become the No. 5 T20I team after the end of the New Zealand series. Let's look at how Bangladesh can improve its ICC T20 ranking.
Ranking Scenarios at the end of BAN vs. NZ T20I Series 2021
Bangladesh climbed to No. 10 after a 4-1 victory against Australia in the T20I series. They have closed the gap with Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and Afghanistan in terms of rating points. If Bangladesh repeat their performance in the next bilateral home series as they did in the Australia series, they may considerably improve their position in the ICC team rankings.
Read 100-Ball Cricket Match: Southern Brave Win Inaugural Tournament
If Bangladesh win the series, it will be bad news for New Zealand in terms of post-series rankings. New Zealand are ranked third in the ICC's T20 ranking for teams. However, if they lose all of their remaining matches, they will drop to fourth place. The following is the ranking scenario for the BAN vs. NZ series in 2021.
Bangladesh win (5-0)
Bangladesh would move up to fifth place in the ICC T20I team rankings with 248 rating points if they beat New Zealand 5-0. While New Zealand will drop to fourth place with 250 points.
Bangladesh win (4-1)
Bangladesh would move up to sixth place with 245 points if they defeat New Zealand 4-1. New Zealand will likewise drop a spot from their current ranking, with a rating point total of 253.
Read BAN vs. NZ 2021: How Bangladesh Can Clinch the T20I Series Against New Zealand
Bangladesh win (3-2)
Bangladesh would climb up to the sixth position with 241 points if they win the bilateral T20I series against New Zealand 3-2. New Zealand, on the other hand, will drop to fourth place with 256 points.
New Zealand win (3-2)
Even if Bangladesh lose the series 3-2 to New Zealand, their T20I team rankings will rise. With 238 rating points, Bangladesh will move up to seventh place. New Zealand will drop to fourth place with 259 rating points Due to two losses.
New Zealand win (4-1)
If New Zealand win the series 4-1 against Bangladesh, they will be able to maintain their current ICC T20I team rankings. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will maintain its present position in the rankings.
Read BAN vs. NZ T20I Series 2021: Bangladesh Squad Analysis
New Zealand win (5-0)
A clean sweep of Bangladesh by New Zealand would boost the Kiwis' rating points, but it wouldn't affect their standing at all. Despite the fact that Bangladesh will remain in the No.10 spot, they will lose some rating points in the process.
Verdict
The upcoming series will be New Zealand's second bilateral Twenty20I series in Bangladesh. Bangladesh's first target would be to win a T20I against New Zealand, something they had failed to achieve in the previous 10 meetings. Bangladesh will thereafter be aiming for a series victory.
If Bangladesh win the series against New Zealand, they will be able to improve their current T20 ranking. The number of games won by Bangladesh in the series will determine how far they may climb the rankings. Bangladesh will be the fifth-ranked T20I team in the ICC rankings if they whitewash New Zealand, which would be a historic feat.
Read ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Dubai to Host Epic India-Pakistan Group Stage Match
BAN vs. NZ 2021: How Bangladesh Can Clinch the T20I Series Against New Zealand
Bangladesh's dependable opener Tamim Iqbal has been ruled out due to injury, but Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das will be available, ensuring a full-strength Bangladesh lineup for the five-match Ban vs. NZ 2021 T20I series. The T20 World Cup team of New Zealand will not compete in the series. They will send an inexperienced team to Bangladesh. Given this, Bangladesh have a strong chance to upset New Zealand, since they have yet to defeat them in a T20 encounter. How Bangladesh can clinch the T20I series against New Zealand is discussed in this article.
What Bangladesh need to do to win the Ban vs. NZ 2021 Series?
Bangladesh and New Zealand will begin their bilateral Twenty20 International series in early September. The matches will be held on September 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10. All of the matches will take place at the SBNCS in Mirpur.
Having a game strategy for each match
Having a solid game plan is important in the T20 format. It is essential to put together the ideal playing XI after analyzing the opponent's weaknesses. Bangladesh's spin attack is formidable, and the Tigers' management must develop a clear strategy to defeat the Kiwis.
Mustafizur Rahman, in particular, has been in superb form, and they now have a variety of fast bowling options. It is possible to maintain total domination over New Zealand throughout the series if the plan is properly implemented.
Read BAN vs. NZ T20I Series 2021: Bangladesh Squad Analysis
Mahmudullah Riyad's inspirational leadership
Mahmudullah Riyad has shown in recent series that he is the ideal choice to captain Bangladesh's T20I team. He needs more time to achieve consistent success in this format. Mahmudullah's ability as captain will unveil on a true sporting pitch.
Mahmudullah should not be scared to make difficult decisions when required. He has to motivate the bowlers and make better decisions, especially when fielding. The captain's personality might affect the team's performance. So, the focus should be on his efforts to inspire the team to succeed.
Read ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Dubai to Host Epic India-Pakistan Group Stage Match
Partnerships are important to build a challenging total
We may witness slow surfaces in the BAN vs. NZ 2021 Twenty20 series. The batters in this series will have a tough time forming big partnerships. Batsmen will have a difficult time in the middle when faced with slower bowlers. Bangladesh batters, on the other hand, are well-versed with the conditions of the Mirpur surface.
They know how to score runs on this ground. Batters should be mindful of the pitch's potential dangers and modify their batting technique accordingly. Bangladesh's main goal should be to form at least two fifty-plus partnerships for a challenging total.
Read Mushfiqur, Liton return as Bangladesh announce squad for NZ T20Is
Concentrate on obtaining all of the opponent's wickets
New Zealand have a number of recognized power hitters who can destroy an opponent's bowling attack. So, picking up wickets at regular intervals will be the best way for Bangladesh to keep pressure on the Kiwi batting order.
Thankfully, Bangladesh have several potent spinners who can unsettle New Zealand's top and middle order. Nasum, Shakib, and Mahadi showcased their skills during the Australia series. The Australian batsmen had no idea how to deal with Bangladesh's powerful spin attack.
New Zealand batsmen are likely to struggle on a subcontinent pitch. They may find it difficult to cope with Bangladesh's spin bowling. Bangladesh will be able to put pressure on New Zealand if they continue to take wickets.
Read ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021: Who Are Favourites?
Verdict
Bangladesh have won five consecutive bilateral series, including series against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Australia. Bangladesh's campaign has gained a lot of confidence after winning the T20I series against powerful Australia at home earlier this month.
BCB will likely build favorable pitches for Bangladesh in order to win a Twenty20 series against New Zealand for the first time.BCB's decision to use more spin-friendly pitches against Australia has been criticized.
According to some experts, these kinds of pitches would not help Bangladesh prepare properly for the T20 World Cup. However, BCB may again use slow tracks in order to win the BAN vs. NZ 2021 series.
Read BAN vs. NZ 2021: Notable T20I Records Between Bangladesh and New Zealand