Prior to the T20 World Cup, it was widely assumed that Bangladesh's bowling attack would be their trump card, given the recent lacklustre performances from their batsmen.
Yet, the rise of Tanzim Hasan Sakib as the Tigers' spearhead bowler caught many off guard. He now stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of New Zealand's Trent Boult, the Windies' Akeal Hosein, and South Africa's Anrich Nortje, each claiming nine wickets in four matches, placing them joint-second in the tournament's top wicket-takers.
Sakib's distinction lies in his remarkable influence with the new ball. At just 21, he's emerged as the tournament's most formidable bowler, boasting a bowling impact score of 251.54, as per ESPNcricinfo's metrics. Sakib himself has been forthright about his approach, aiming for aggression and precise execution of his strategies, as evidenced by his post-Nepal victory remarks.
His performance against Nepal, where he clinched the player of the match for his personal best of four wickets for seven runs, was marred by a 15 percent fine for a code of conduct breach, stemming from an altercation with Nepal's captain Rohit Paudel during an intense opening spell.
Sakib's eventual inclusion in the Tigers' line-up, which has been pivotal to their advance to the Super Eight, was initially contentious. Overlooked in the primary squad submitted to the ICC, a daring decision by the Gazi Ashraf Hossain-led selection committee saw him selected over Mohammad Saifuddin. Although not primarily utilised in the death overs—a role where selectors envisioned him outperforming Saifuddin—Sakib embraced the challenge of opening the bowling, a role he's seldom assumed in limited-overs cricket.
Renowned for his brisk, slingy deliveries, Sakib has adeptly exploited the sluggish, spin-friendly pitches of the Caribbean and the USA. His dismissal of two Nepalese batsmen at point and the skittling of Quinton de Kock, following the lbw of Reeza Hendricks, demonstrated how his low-bouncing skidders could be a potent arsenal for the Tigers for the tournament's duration.
Against Nepal, Sakib delivered a relentless spell of four overs, recording 21 dot balls—the highest in a T20 World Cup match to that point—and conceding a mere single extra. This performance was instrumental in Bangladesh's defence of a modest total of 106 runs.
Encouragingly for Bangladesh, Sakib's efforts are complemented by his teammates: Mustafizur Rahman's economical death overs and vital wickets, Taskin Ahmed's consistent performances, and the young leg-spinner Rishad Hossain's impressive turn and control. The team hopes this collective form persists, starting with their next clash against the formidable Australians in Antigua today.
