Bangladesh Twenty20 skipper Mahmudullah is aiming to overcome the Tigers’ past woes in previous ICC T20 World Cups and do something ‘special’ in the forthcoming edition of the mega event which starts next month in the UAE and Oman.

 
‘I feel that we were not as successful as we had hoped for in the previous Twenty20 World Cups. But this time I hope we do something special, which could be many things,’ Mahmudullah told New Age.

Bangladesh has featured in all seven ICC T20 World Cups since its inception in 2007 but have never made it past the group stage.

But Mahmudullah really fancies his team’s chances to make it far in the competition this year with the balanced squad at his disposal which has both the experience of the veterans and the exuberance of youth.

‘I am quite satisfied with the balance in our team as there are some experienced players like Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman and some young players like Shoriful Islam, Shamim Hossain, Afif Hossain and Nasum Ahmed.

‘It’s a very good combination. But the T20 game is such that it’s really difficult to hold nerves. There are a lot of small but important decisions that have to be made. If you can do these things correctly at the right time, you are more likely to get results. So we have to keep these things in mind. Hopefully we can achieve something very good in the World Cup.’

This will be the first time the Tigers will take part in a T20 World Cup without Tamim Iqbal in the squad.

The country’s top run-getter in T20s stepped aside from the global event to make way for others who have played more T20 internationals for the national side in recent times.

Mahmudullah respects the Southpaw’s decision and at the same time assures that whoever replaces Tamim will surely try his best to win matches.  

‘Tamim is one of the best players in Bangladesh. But the decision is his own and I think everyone’s decision should be respected. And the players who have been picked for the World Cup have earned their spot. All of us will try our best to win matches.’

Bangladesh are going into the marquee event without a settled opening combination and a fixed lower middle-order with multiple players gunning for those spots.

Mahmudullah welcomes the healthy competition that exists between the players and thinks that it would benefit the team in the competition.

‘A healthy competition exists in our team at the moment and that’s a great thing for any side. The existence of competition plays a positive role in the team.’

Bangladesh has a total of six spin bowling options in their 15-man squad but none of them are wrist spinners as the selectors left out leg-spinner Aminul Islam Biplob from the squad and kept him as one of the two reserve players.

Wrist spinners add another dimension in the bowling attack and could play a crucial role in T20s, agreed Mahmudullah, but said the selectors chose the more tried and tested options.

‘Yes, it’s true that if you have a wrist spinner in this format you will have an additional option. But in our squad we have picked spinners who trusted and have been tested.’

There is some murmur that the Tigers could struggle to adapt to the conditions in the UAE and Oman but Mahmudullah disregarded the notion as many of the squad had taken part in Asia Cup 2018 in the UAE, where Bangladesh finished as runners-up.

‘Almost everyone has experience of playing here. I think the condition will not be a big factor. But maybe we will have to adapt to the extra heat.’

The Tigers’ are enjoying a golden spell of success in the shortest format as they have won nine T20s this year already, the most for them in a calendar year, along with consecutive series wins over Zimbabwe, Australia and New Zealand.

Mahmudullah believes the victories will boost the team’s confidence.

‘We have won nine of the last 13 matches along with three series wins. I hope that it will boost self-confidence of our members. It is very important to develop the habit of winning in this format.’

The 35-year-old concluded with a soft reminder to his troops that there is a clear distinction between the atmosphere of a World Cup and a bilateral series and they have to adjust quickly if they are to succeed.

‘The bilateral series and the World Cup are completely different. And we will play in a different condition. I hope we can adapt quickly. By making the small adjustments that are needed we will be able to play our best game.’