While it is said that the ODI cricket is the most comfortable format for Bangladesh and cricketers decode this 50-over format well, the current performance doesn’t exactly show so, reports BSS.
The stat suggested that Bangladesh have not won any of the last seven ODIs, they played while one match was washed out due to rain. The manner in which they lost all those matches could be termed as meek surrender.
As per stat, the current lean patch is Bangladesh’s worst in a decade, raising a question whether they are really in comfort zone in this format.
Last time Bangladesh endured such heartbreak in 2014. In that year, Bangladesh lost a total of 12 matches from February 17, 2014 to August 25 of the same year. Of the 12 matches, nine defeats came at home, including a 58-run all out while chasing just 106 against India and three were away from home.
Thereafter, Bangladesh did not have such a phase of defeats in ODI cricket. It has never been this bad.
In 2015, Bangladesh experienced a renaissance in the ODI format. A fearless brand of cricket changed the whole cricketing landscape here.
Bangladesh found the ingredients for regular success in ODIs from occasional flashes of brilliance and that eventually made them a giant. They tasted series victories against India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ireland.
Not only bilateral series, Bangladesh have also played good cricket in global and continental competitions. They were adorably called Tigers and they proved the tag is preciously right.
They played the final of the Asia Cup after which played the quarterfinal of the 2015 World Cup and semifinal of the Champions Trophy in 2017.
However, everything has changed now. It is not that Bangladesh used to win all the matches during this period. But they were consistent.
In the period, which is termed as heyday of Bangladesh cricket, they lost three matches in a row five times, four matches in a row twice, five and six matches on the trot just once.
Bangladesh started the 2023 World Cup by defeating Afghanistan. Then they lost to England in Dharamshala, New Zealand in Chennai, India in Pune, South Africa at Wankhede, Netherlands and Pakistan at Eden Park, Kolkata. Later, the team also lost to Australia. In between, they only won against Sri Lanka. After losing six consecutive matches in the World Cup, Bangladesh took the number to seven this time.
Last year, Bangladesh lost the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in Sharjah by 2-1. After losing the first ODI, they won the second match. They lost again in the third ODI. After that, Bangladesh have been in a cycle of perpetual defeat.
In December, they toured West Indies and were swept in three-match series after which they lost to India and New Zealand in the Champions Trophy. The last match was against Pakistan but rain 'saved' them. Then came the horror experience in Colombo. Bangladesh suffered an embarrassing defeat, losing 7 wickets for 5 runs, a worst collapse that the cricket world has ever seen.
The defeat cycle is not new for Bangladesh. After defeating Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup in Northampton, Bangladesh have not won 45 consecutive matches. Bangladesh had to wait till March 10, 2004 for another victory.
After going through the longest losing streak, the Bangladesh ODI team has defeated even the big teams but now the bad times seemed to have engrossed them.
Bd-pratidin English/TR
