Bangladesh dilemma: Looking Lanka, talking Pakistan

Bangladesh piggy-backed on debutant Mustafizur Rahman’s 5 for 50. (Source: AP)

Intense cricket, skirmishes on the pitch and a hostile crowd drumming up hysteria in the stands. The first ODI at Mirpur left you wondering where did India last play in such a charged-up atmosphere away from home. Probably the 2008 Australia Test series, but while the players indeed were at each others’ throat, the crowd, which has a significant expat presence, wasn’t really baying for blood.

Because of the sub-continental bias, the mind therefore kept going back to Pakistan. Not the 2004 series, which was played in a cordial environment. Nor the 2006 one, because by then the arch-rivals had played so often the atmosphere ceased to be friendly or otherwise. But, to an extent, the 1989 series — for both the cricket and rowdy spectators.

Is Bangladesh going to be the new Pakistan for the Indian cricket team? This question has been on the lips of many here, and one journalist did end up asking Chandika Hathurusingha, Bangladesh’s coach.

“That’s a difficult question. For me it’s all about playing good cricket,” was Hathurusingha’s measured response. “Always when the younger brother competes with the older brother, there is a bit of a thing. They (India) always look at Bangladesh as the younger nation playing cricket. Now we are competing with big teams. I can’t talk about rivalries, the main thing is that the players are playing hard and hard, and that’s what we are playing for.

Indeed, tempting as it may seem, India vs Bangladesh isn’t going to be the new India versus Pakistan just yet. Even if we don’t take the politico-historical reasons that give an edge to the old rivalry and stick strictly to cricket, Pakistan and India have consistently produced some thrilling stuff out there. Some the legends of world cricket have come together and set the stage alight with spectacular performances.

On the other hand, while Bangladesh have improved considerably in the shorter format of late – in fact they have the third best winning percentage in ODIs this year — they will have to consistently challenge and beat India, over the years and across formats, to remove this sense of shock that the visitors are feeling at the moment.

Or Sri Lanka?

Chandika Hathurusingha made his debut in 1991 when Sri Lanka had begun to break out in a big way. The core of that side which would win the 1996 World Cup was more or less in place.

Now as Bangladesh put together a series of results in ODIs and command world cricket’s attention, he was asked the question if this team can go on to win the 2019 World Cup. At first he refused to be drawn into this crystal-ball gazing.

“I think time will tell. It’s too far ahead to think,” he said. But he was asked again if he saw glimpses of Sri Lanka of the early 90s in the team. “It’s very hard to compare eras. At that time, the Sri Lankan team was an experienced side. This is a young team.

There is a long way to go for this Bangladesh team. But one thing I can tell is that there are a number of world-class players in this team. In five years time, we can talk about their achievements.”

Indeed, in the not-too-distant future, Bangladesh can go on to emulate Sri Lanka. They can even be another Sri Lanka for India, albeit with more passionate supporters than the Islanders. But another Pakistan? Probably not.