Hold your horses, Bangladesh fans! Nepal still stand as a potential banana skin on the road to the T20 World Cup Super Eights berth. The plot thickens: If Netherlands stun Sri Lanka, then net run rate could see the Tigers sent packing.
Fear not, however! This Bangladesh side isn't known for such jitters. Their focus remains firmly on the upcoming clash with Nepal on Monday in Kingstown.
Nepal's World Cup dream ended in a heartbreaking one-run defeat to South Africa. Even a win against Bangladesh in their next match wouldn't be enough for Nepal, who would only manage 3 points. Bangladesh, currently sitting comfortably in second place with 4 points, need just a victory to secure their Super Eight berth.
While Nepal's exit adds another chapter to Group D's drama, Sri Lanka joins them on their way out. South Africa, on the other hand, has already booked their place in the Super Eight.
The battle for the remaining "D-2" spot in the Super Eight now boils down to Bangladesh and Netherlands. The crucial match on Monday will decide who progresses to the knockout stages.
The equation for Bangladesh is relatively straightforward. A win against Nepal guarantees their passage to the Super Eight. Even a washout due to rain in St. Vincent wouldn't dampen their spirits. A cancelled match would award them 1 point, taking their total to 5. In this scenario, even if Netherlands wins their final match, their points (4) would fall short of Bangladesh's tally.
However, things get a bit trickier if Bangladesh loses their match and Netherlands manages to defeat Sri Lanka. In that case, both teams would be tied on 4 points. Netherlands would then progress based on a superior run rate.
Last year's World Cup humiliation at the hands of Netherlands still stings. The Bangladesh camp hasn't forgotten the Calcutta Eden Gardens debacle, nor the valuable lesson learned: never underestimate the Dutch. There will be no such complacency this time around. In fact, the upcoming clash with Nepal has them even more fired up. With Eid falling on match day in Bangladesh, a victory would be the perfect way to double the festive cheer. As Shakib Al Hasan himself declared, "Eid is a day celebrated by everyone in Bangladesh, irrespective of religion. Hopefully, we can win and bring smiles to everyone's faces."
Familiarity with the ground and wicket is also a source of comfort for Bangladesh. The Arnos Vale ground is making its international comeback after a decade, with the Bangladesh vs. Netherlands match marking the occasion. The excitement is palpable, even attracting St. Vincent's Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalvez, who hosted the Bangladesh team for a dinner in 2014. While Mahmudullah is the sole survivor from that Test match, the experience of playing on this ground, albeit ten years ago, can't be entirely discounted.
With no toss to dictate their strategy, Bangladesh faced an uncertain path towards a winning score. This uncertainty was further amplified by the early loss of two wickets. Building a target often relies on understanding the wicket and factoring in the ground's past performances. Here, with only two T20s played back in 2013, Shakib Al Hasan's experience became crucial. He not only battled for personal form but also shouldered the responsibility of guiding the other batsmen. He excelled in both, not only becoming the man of the match but also donning the coveted 'Man of the Match' jacket.
Nepal may be the immediate concern, but the shadows of Australia, India, and Afghanistan loom large. Yet, a bigger dream is brewing in the Bangladesh camp, a dream ignited by Shakib's return to form.
