Bangladesh bowlers have gained praise from all over the world for their performances in this World Cup so far as it is them who have been the brightest spark for the Tigers, guiding them to their most successful T20 World Cup campaign.
The Bangladesh bowlers have all been firing at full cylinder as the three pacers鈥擳anzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, and Mustafizur Rahman鈥攈ave picked up nine, seven, and seven wickets, respectively.
Their total of 23 wickets this tournament is the joint-highest for Bangladesh pacers in T20 World Cups alongside the 2016 and 2021 editions, although in both tournaments Bangladesh had played seven games, contrary to the four played this time around.
The biggest revelation has been Sakib, whose selection in the squad was a last-minute decision from the management鈥攁 decision that was heavily criticised following the squad announcement.
While he got his spot in the squad, he was unlikely to be picked in the first XI as Shoriful Islam鈥擝angladesh鈥檚 left-arm new-ball wicket-taker for the past year鈥攚as set to be first choice.
However, the left-arm pacer injured his bowling hand in the warm-up game against India, handing Sakib the opportunity to showcase his talents, which he did.
He picked up one wicket against Sri Lanka before dismantling the South African top-order with three, and after another one against the Netherlands, crushed Nepal as he picked up four wickets for just seven runs, bowling 21 dot balls鈥攁 record for Bangladesh.
Sakib鈥檚 exploits thus far have kept Shoriful out of the XI so far, but Bangladesh have had their other left-arm pacer, Mustafiz, in gunning form so far in this tournament.
He has picked up seven wickets at an economy of 3.38鈥攖he lowest among bowlers who have bowled their full quota in all four matches.
He has regained his pace, bowling at high 130s, and has been flummoxing the batters with his cutters on a regular basis at the death. Against South Africa, Mustafiz bowled four dot balls in the final over, and against the Dutch, in his final two overs鈥攖he 17th and 19th of the innings鈥攈e produced 10 dot balls.
Against Nepal, he matched Sakib in terms of runs given away鈥攕even in four overs鈥攁nd, en route to that, gave just 1 run in his final two overs, including 11 dot deliveries and a wicket maiden in the penultimate over.
Alongside the pacers, leg-spinner Rishad Hossain has been a revelation for the Tigers. Leg-spin鈥攖he trade that is treated like untouchable in Bangladesh鈥攈as been vital for them as Rishad has picked up seven wickets so far this tournament, and in both the games against Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, it was him who turned the tide in favour of Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh bowlers have been their driving force so far in this tournament with little to no help from the batters, and their form gives Bangladesh hope to do one better on their best T20 World Cup as they begin their Super Eight stage.
The opponents will be tougher in the final eight, and thus, Bangladesh will hope their bowlers keep up their form and probably even do better.
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SUPER 8 FIXTURES
(All Times Bangladesh Standard Time)
Date听 听 听 听 听 听 Match听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Venue听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Time
June 20听 听 听 Afghanistan听 v听 India听 听 听 听 听 听Barbados听 听 听 听 听 听 8:30pm
June 21听 听 Australia v听 Bangladesh听 听 听 听 Antigua听 听 听 听 听 听 听6:30am
June 21听 听England v听 South Africa听听听听听听 St Lucia听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 8:30pm
June 22听 听West Indies听 v听 USA听 听 听 听 听 听 听Barbados听听听听听听听听听听听听 6:30am
June 22听 Bangladesh听 v听 India听 听 听 听 听 听 听Antigua听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 8:30pm
June 23听 Afghanistan听 听v听 Australia听 听 听Kingstown听听听听听听听听听听 6:30am
June 23听 England听 v听 USA听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Barbados听听听听听听听听听听听听 8:30pm
June 24听 West Indies听 v听 South Africa听 Antigua听 听 听 听 听 听 听 6:30am
June 24听 Australia听 听v听 听India听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听St Lucia听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 8:30pm
June 25 Afghanistan听 v Bangladesh听 听St Vincent听听听听听听听听听听 6:30am
