Success eclipses failure

In international cricket, Bangladesh has secured victories in 11 out of 32 One Day Internationals (ODIs), with 18 losses and three matches yielding no result. In the T20 format, excluding the series against New Zealand, Bangladesh has played 8 matches, winning 7 and losing one. The true picture of cricket in the country in 2023 cannot be understood. The mathematical statistics do not capture the myriad challenges afflicting cricket in Bangladesh. In football, with 5 wins, 4 losses, and 5 draws in 14 matches, the statistical summary fails to convey the true picture. Football, entangled in diverse complexities and limitations, finds itself on a path overshadowed by challenges. Beyond cricket and football, success appears elusive, and the narrative of failure pervades almost every aspect in 2023.

Cricket passion overshadowed by World Cup failure
Before the start, those who had eagerly calculated their semifinal chances find themselves in a dilemma at the end of the ICC Cricket World Cup. Starting with a victory against Afghanistan, they end with a defeat against Australia. The brand of cricket Bangladesh played in between feels truly heartfelt! The response of cricket aficionados in the aftermath of the World Cup seems to reflect a sentiment. In most cases, it was not rational analysis but rather emotional fervor that shaped cricketing evaluations. Hence, I sense an unfounded balloon of expectations has inflated; it hasn't taken long to burst, even though it remained silent.

In the World Cup, Bangladesh secured 2 victories in 9 matches, losing the remaining 7. One of the 7 losses came against minnows Netherlands. Your emotion perhaps suggests — this is not the true picture of Bangladesh cricket; however, reality dictates that it was not just unusual but ratherabnormal.

Responsibilities in modern cricket are distributed among everyone associated with the team, including support staff. In that realm, only a few board officials are non-contributory. They are heard on issues ranging from team selection, deciding the playing eleven, to even organizing the batting order. When a non-technical person has access to everything, you need to understand that the team's crucial aspects are not on the right track. Opposing teams complete a cycle in three to four years, preparing with utmost diligence for the World Cup. Envisioning leading a team to the semifinals there is nothing short of a fantasy! When a non-technical person has access to everything, you need to understand that the team's crucial aspects are not on the right track. Opposing teams complete a cycle in three to four years, preparing with utmost diligence for the World Cup. Envisioning leading a team to the semifinals there is nothing short of a fantasy!

Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, with Rahul Dravid at the helm, India has prepared extensively for the World Cup, evident on the global stage. Prior to the final loss, the team played cricket with welcoming precision. Despite the initial setback against Australia, there was a far-reaching strategic plan. The image of the Bangladesh team before the World Cup was certainly not forgotten. Due to the unwarranted remarks of the board officials, Tamim Iqbal has announced retirement in frustration and pride. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's intervention led to a change in decision, and the experienced opener took the decision to participate in the World Cup. At the beginning of the training camp, Tamim Iqbal expressed dissatisfaction with the batting order-related decisions and found himself outside the squad. The issue of Mahmudullah Riyad, an experienced batter, being part of the World Cup squad or not, has been a subject of debate with ups and downs over the years. Breaking through the uncertainty, Mahmudullah has joined the World Cup contingent. With 328 runs in 7 innings across 8 matches, he holds the record for the highest run-scorer, only to have it erased due to cancellation. As the team faces a crucial situation, his experience in such circumstances makes him the most adept player in World Cup history – a proficiency unmatched and extraordinary. This sets the stage for the preparation-related challenges of a mega event like the World Cup, akin to navigating through the complexities of mud and clay.

The country's cricket culture is not just a source of joy for enthusiasts; rather, it stands as a formidable barrier on the path of optimism regarding the future of Bangladesh cricket. Year after year, Bangladesh cricket advances, following a remarkable pattern of success and failure, resembling the unpredictable dance of a cat and mouse. In bilateral series on home soil, the creation of wickets favorable to the home team often tilts the scales in favor of success, making the path of success weigh heavily. When venturing onto the opponent's turf, winning becomes a challenging task. In away series, the Tigers roar triumphantly when they find conducive sporting wickets, otherwise, they often find themselves in the clutches of an average-performing team. The statistics of 2023 clearly illustrate this trend. All four Tests have been played on home soil, bringing victories against England, Ireland, and Afghanistan. The T20 series against these teams also welcomed the Reds and Greens warmly. Conversely, the majority of ODIs were contested outside the country.

Bangladesh has faced significant failures in the Test and T20 formats, particularly in the context of 50-over cricket this year. However, in the recent past, this was their most successful format on the international stage. In 2022, Bangladesh won 10 out of 15 matches in this format. The success of playing at home was evident in their dominance in this format.

How this trend might play out in the upcoming Asia Cup and ICC Cricket World Cup, considering the home advantage, has been showcased, including the recent tour to New Zealand.

Before that, the year started in March with a three-match ODI series against England at home, where Bangladesh lost 2-1. The series victory was sealed by the visitors in the first two matches, and the win in the final match was a consolation filled with welcome moments. In the three-match T20 series, Bangladesh redeemed themselves by whitewashing England, finding solace in the T20 format after the ODI series defeat.

In March-April, Bangladesh faced a defeat against Ireland in the only Test match at home, losing by 7 wickets. The three-match T20 series against the West Indies resulted in a 2-1 victory for the hosts. In the three-match ODI series, Bangladesh secured a 2-0 win. Before and after the second match in Sylhet, which was interrupted by rain, Bangladesh achieved a significant victory with 183 runs and 10 wickets.

In the month of May, Bangladesh won the three-match ODI series against Ireland 2-0. After the first match was affected by rain, Bangladesh secured back-to-back victories. In June-July, Bangladesh faced Afghanistan in a Test match, winning by 546 runs, but lost the subsequent three-match ODI series 2-1. However, in the two-match T20 series, Bangladesh whitewashed Afghanistan. Following a defeat against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup in August-September, Bangladesh bounced back with a convincing 89-run victory against Afghanistan. This win secured Bangladesh's place in the Super Four, and they achieved another victory against India before exiting the Asia Cup. In September, Bangladesh secured a welcoming 2-0 victory in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. The series and competitions played at home and abroad before the World Cup provided an opportunity to form the team. The team has faced internal divisions and intense competition, which has tested the self-confidence of many cricketers. It is with this regained self-confidence that the representatives of the red and green have entered the World Cup arena.

After the World Cup, Bangladesh played a two-match Test series against New Zealand at home in November-December, drawing it 1-1. The return tour began with the first match of the three-match ODI series, which Bangladesh lost by 44 runs. In the second match, despite Soumya Sarkar's humanly 169 runs in an innings, they lost by 7 wickets. This meant that New Zealand secured the series with one match still to be played. In the last match, Bangladesh secured a consolation victory by defeating New Zealand by 9 wickets. During the New Zealand tour, Bangladesh also played three T20 matches.

A message about spinning in football
Dutch coach Louis van Gaal couldn't shatter the cycle of failure despite dreaming big. English coach Jimmy Dejey has walked the same path. The golden era of success in Bangladeshi football has not yet been realized. The initial stages of their careers in Bangladesh football were not prosperous. Despite facing setbacks in the journey, they have come to understand the inherent challenges in Bangladeshi football. The Spanish coach, who has been working on football analysis and statistics since the inception of his career, has managed to comprehend the natural challenges affecting football in the country.

He brings a modern approach to the game, departing from the traditional number nine trend. Two rising stars, Rakib Hossain and Faysal Ahmed Fahim, have emerged under his coaching. Among them, Sheikh Morshalin stands out. Captain Jamal Bhuiyan has also been seen playing in various matches as a box-to-box midfielder. This skill might not always result in goal-scoring opportunities directly, but it consistently instills fear in the opposition's defense, gradually transforming Bangladesh's football landscape. The country is no longer sitting defeated before the final whistle.

The chapter of turning Cabra began in March with a camp in Saudi Arabia. In a non-official friendly match against Malawi during the tour, Bangladesh secured a 1-1 draw. As part of the preparation for the SAFF Championship, Bangladesh played two friendly matches against Seychelles in March. The first match ended in a 1-0 victory, while the second match resulted in a defeat by the same margin. Boosting their confidence ahead of the SAFF Championship, Bangladesh secured a 1-0 victory against Cambodia in June. Despite starting the mission with a 2-0 defeat against Lebanon in the SAFF Championship in Bengaluru, the Bangladesh football team has garnered praise for their performance. After absorbing the goals against Bhutan and the Maldives, the team has displayed a strategy that has not been seen in a generation. The next two matches ended in a 3-1 victory, propelling them to the SAFF Championship semifinals. This marked Bangladesh's first semifinal appearance since 2009. In the knockout match against the strongest team in the competition, Kuwait, the game ended goalless during regular time, and Bangladesh secured a victory by scoring extra-time goals, bidding farewell to the semifinals. This turnaround came after a prolonged period of disappointments, with the SAFF Championship being the catalyst for Bangladesh. Anisur Rahman Zico, Bangladesh's top goalkeeper of the tournament, received accolades for his outstanding performance.

Bangladesh showed consistent football performance against Afghanistan in two friendly matches. Despite Afghanistan's strong presence, the first match ended goalless, and the subsequent one resulted in a 1-1 draw for Bangladesh. The most crucial duel of the year was against Maldives in the first round of World Cup qualifiers. If Bangladesh had lost the home and away battles, they would have been excluded from the upcoming three years of FIFA-AFC competitions. Bangladesh secures a 1-1 draw against Maldives in the away match. In Dhaka, with a 2-1 victory, they clinch the second round spot, overcoming the disciples of Kewell's Cabra. Despite facing an insurmountable improvement by Australia in the first match of the second round, losing 7-0, Bangladesh manages to bounce back with a 1-1 draw against Lebanon in Dhaka, avoiding Australia's setback.

The Kewell's Cabra squad has played combative football for Bangladesh in the Asian Games as well. Although they faced defeats in the first two matches of Group A, there were many noteworthy aspects in both games. The loss to Myanmar featured a self-destructive goal by Hasan Murad. Against India, the defeat came with Sunil Chhetri's penalty goal. The scorelines, however, may not fully capture the nature of the matches. If the opportunities were capitalized, the scorelines of the two matches could have been different. In the final match, Bangladesh secures a goalless draw against welcoming China.

Asian Games women's team limited to SAFF champions
After winning the SAFF Championship, Bangladesh did not send the women's team to the Olympic qualifiers, leading to extensive discussions. Despite SAFF-winning coach Golam Rabbani Choton and goalkeeping coach Masud Ahmed Ujjal, the women's team faced controversy. In 2023, Bangladesh's women competed in the Asian Games with only three matches, drawing the last one against Nepal. Before the Games, Bangladesh drew the series against Nepal with a 1-1 and 0-0 scoreline in two matches. Sabinah Khatun's team dominated Singapore in a two-match series, winning 3-0 and 8-0. Despite these victories, controversies arose, leading to changes in the women's football program, including the cancellation of the Women's Super League. Bashundhara Kings took over from the Women's League as women's football faces challenges in the New Year.

In Argentina, Jamal Bhuiyan
During the past transfer window, Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuiyan received an offer from an Argentine club. The offer came during the mid-season, but no agreement was reached. Before the start of the new season, Jamal Bhuiyan has again received an offer and has left for Argentina to join the Sol de Mayo club, a third-tier professional team in the Argentine football structure. Jamal Bhuiyan's transition is marked by personal achievements, having scored goals and secured victories for the team.

Basundhara Kings on the Asian stage
In 2019, participating in the AFC Cup regional semifinals boosted the AFC ratings of Bangladeshi clubs. Basundhara Kings played in the AFC Champions League playoffs in 2023, ending their mission with a 2-0 defeat against Sharjah FC in the Champions League. Later, as the champions of the Bangladesh Premier League, they directly entered the AFC Cup group stage. Despite starting their international campaign with a loss, Basundhara Kings secured the top spot in the group, only to lose in the AFC Cup regional semifinal to Odisha FC. Although they faced setbacks on the international stage, Basundhara Kings began their domestic season by winning the Independence Cup.

The Alcoholic Incident
In the AFC Cup match against Maziya Sports and Recreation Center in the Maldives, five footballers from Bashundhara Kings—Tapu Barman, Anisur Rahman Zico, Sheikh Morsalin, Rimon Hossain, and Tauhidul Alam Sohag—were caught trying to return to Bangladesh with alcohol, leading to their detention at the airport. In the aftermath of the incident, all five players, except Tauhidul Alam Sohag, have faced sanctions, including bans and fines, and have returned to the club.

Random Hockey
Bangladesh emerged as the champion in the Junior AHF Cup after defeating Oman. The achievement secured their qualification for the Junior Asia Cup. The dream was to secure a top-four finish in the Junior Asia Cup held in Oman. If successful, they would have earned eligibility to participate in the Junior World Cup. However, they finished in the 6th position among 10 nations. In the subsequent Asian Games, Bangladesh finished 8th among 12 nations in hockey.

Return of Roman Sana
Roman Sana, who was banned from the national team for assaulting his teammate, is back in the middle of the year. Despite several attempts, Bangladeshi archers have not been successful in directly qualifying for the Olympic Games. The mixed results have put Roman Sana back in the spotlight as he returns to archery.

Failure at the Asian Games
Consistently winning medals in both global and Asian archery competitions, Bangladesh showcases its prowess on the international stage, proving its mettle at the Asian Games on a grand scale.

Before the Games, Bangladesh had two expatriate athletes at the center of their dreams—boxer Jannat Ferdous and sprinter Imranur Rahman. Despite both athletes not being in a position resembling someone dreaming, those who regularly follow the sports arena couldn't understand the policies of the sports authorities. Imranur is primarily a 60-meter sprinter. At the Asian Games, there was never an opportunity for him on such a big stage. However, athletics officials have deceived Imranur Rahman with promises, investing 7-8 lakh taka every month behind him. There was also an 'investment in the wrong place' for Jannat Ferdous! Despite an expenditure of nearly 17 crore taka, Bangladesh achieved only two bronze medals in the Games—both from men's and women's cricket. Criticized for colossal investment, it resulted in extreme failure.

Author: Journalist