The Cricketer assesses the performances of Bangladesh, who gave a terrific account of themselves, but ultimately fell short of a World Cup semi-final berth
8 matches, 34 runs, 8.5 batting average, 1 wicket, 361 bowling average, 3 catches
By all accounts, Mashrafe Mortaza is a fabulous leader, a figurehead to a cricketing nation that has grown with his own career. Now a politician back in his homeland to boot, there are few men more influential than the right-arm seamer. All that said, this was a tournament too far for a man who has given his life to the growth of his country’s cricket team. However, he knew his powers were waning.
His run-up shortened by the game, his speeds wavered by the ball, his fielding became increasingly immobile with every passing instant. He was the bus driver – there, but not there; a facilitator rather than a doer.
It was hard to believe that Bangladesh would not have been better served with a more participatory skipper. A bowling average of 361 certainly gives some credibility to such a suggestion. Either way, though, it has been some career. An absolute warrior of a side that he leaves in a far better position than he found it.
D+
8 matches, 235 runs, 29.37 batting average, 3 catches
The ageless opening batsman is still just 30 years old and, all being well, will have a final chance at World Cup success when the tournament reaches India in 2023. When in full flight, there are few who are better to watch than the left-handed Bangladesh opener.
In general, Tamim got himself going to some extent in every knock he played. However, among seven scores above 15, he passed fifty just once. A glorious watch while he was out there, but it was often all too brief. Like his teammates, he was overshadowed by the peerless Shakib.
B-
8 matches, 166 runs, 20.75 batting average, 4 wickets, 22.75 bowling average, 7 catches
For Soumya Sarkar, see Tamim Iqbal. A gloriously talented left-handed opener, who looked terrific when at the crease, taking many of the world’s best bowlers downtown. But, much like his more senior opening partner, his contributions were all too fleeting, all too brief.
He actually peaked in his side’s first game – the famous victory over South Africa at The Oval – when he set the tone with a swashbuckling 42.
Out of nowhere, he became a useful bowling option as the tournament progressed. He had only taken a single ODI wicket before the World Cup started. Then, in the space of eight overs against Australia, he took that tally to four, dismissing Aaron Finch, David Warner and Usman Khawaja. Not a bad return for a part-timer…
C+
Shakib had a monumental tournament
8 matches, 606 runs, 86.57 batting average, 11 wickets, 36.27 bowling average, 3 catches
Quite simply, the player of the tournament. Classy, skillful, consistent – a lowest score of 41 batting in a fairly unfamiliar position at number three and successive centuries against both England and West Indies. It seems a crying shame that the left-arm spinner should finish outside the top four positions in a tournament that he has utterly dominated. An economy rate of just 5.39 displays the control he added with ball in hand.
There can have been few at any time in international cricket who can have legitimately claimed to be their side’s best batsman and best bowler. Shakib might well have a claim. This should be the tournament that gives permanence to the talents of a man who, for many years now, has been the best allrounder on earth.
A+
8 matches, 367 runs, 52.42 batting average, 8 catches, 2 stumpings
A bold, courageous cricketer – the sort you’d always want on your team. A fabulous century against Australia – even in defeat – was one of the knocks of the tournament, while the Australian fielders showed their warm appreciation at his effort. With the gloves, he was tidy and was quick to sweep up any attempt from batsmen to drop and run off the spinners. A fine World Cup for a man, like Tamim and Shakib, who exists as a vital part of this team’s spine.
B+
5 matches, 184 runs, 46 batting average, 3 catches
Announced his arrival in the tournament with a bang, playing an enormous part alongside Shakib in one of the competition’s greatest team displays. Together, they put on an unbroken 189 to take Bangladesh to a wonderful victory over West Indies.
He batted with flair, resilience and no little power. With question marks surrounding the next generation of Bangladeshis after the eventual retirements of their current stalwarts, Das opened eyes to the conveyor belt of ability lining up behind them. He will be frustrated by his failure to convert four subsequent starts into anything more substantial, but that should be a footnote to that monumental effort with Shakib.
B+
7 matches, 219 runs, 43.8 batting average, 2 catches
A fine player for some time who, along with a couple of others in this squad, may well have no played his final World Cup match. Australia were only ever safe in their defence of 381 once he was finally dismissed for a 50-ball 69. Like many in his team, however, his was a tournament of some frustration; a lowest score of 20, only once – in that game against the Aussies – did he turn that start into something more wholesome.
B-
Mashrafe Mortaza did not have much impact with the ball
3 matches, 47 runs, 15.66 batting average
Dropped after making a duck against England, he never got another look after Liton Das jumped on his opportunity in the side. Mithun had begun the tournament with scores of 21 and 26, useful but insubstantial efforts. He did a solid job in the outfield, even as a wicketkeeper without the gloves on.
C-
7 matches, 117 runs, 19.5 batting average, 3 wickets, 71.6 bowling average, 3 catches
A useful cricketer, whose statistics perhaps don’t tell the entire story. He certainly played a part with the ball, even if his wicket-to-wicket off-breaks failed to take the wickets that Bangladesh would have wanted. His runs came at a strike rate of greater than a run a ball, which is a better barometer of his impact than his effort with the ball.
C
2 matches, 36 runs, 18 batting average
Just the two games for Sabbir Rahman, who began his World Cup belatedly with a duck against Australia. He redeemed himself with a punchy 36 as he attempted to chase down India in a must-win clash, though that was ultimately to no avail.
C
7 matches, 81 runs, 29 ave, 13 wickets, 32.07 bowling average, 1 catch
A proper competitor – both with bat and ball. A bustling seamer who leaked runs at times, he bowled in the powerplay and at the death, looking to squeeze yorkers under the bats of some of world cricket’s most powerful strikers. Given his limited pace, it was a daunting task but one that he stuck too with a religious discipline. With the bat, he showed a similar determination in striking an unbeaten 51 against India in a chase that would ultimately fall short. A solid tournament for a man who made all of what he has.
B-
Mustafizur Rahman took 20 wickets in eight matches
7 matches, 37 runs, 12.33 batting average, 6 wickets, 56.83 bowling average, 4 catches
A lovely off-spinner, with a cracking action, it is hard to believe that Mehidy Hasan is still just 21 years old. His wicket-taking record during this World Cup tells very little of the story; just the six scalps came the way of the finger-spinner. However, with an economy rate of just 5.08, he provided his captain with an element of control that every skipper in the tournament would have gladly accepted. An excellent competitor and almost certainly a future Bangladesh captain.
B+
2 matches, 9 runs, 9 batting average, 1 wicket, 131 bowling average, 3 catches
Another veteran of Bangladesh’s rise in recent years, Rubel Hossain only played twice here; he was used as an option when the occasion required an extra seamer. In truth, he struggled. Australia took him for 83 from his nine overs, though he fought back well against India.
C-
8 matches, 1 run, 0.33 batting average, 20 wickets, 24.2 bowling average, 1 catch
A world-class death-bowler doing a world-class job. That was Mustafizur Rahman’s World Cup, in truth. He didn’t prove hugely effective with the new ball on the rare occasion that he did bowl in the early overs, but there are few better anywhere than the left-armer as the innings approaches its final third.
A haul of 20 wickets was a well-earned reward for a skillset that has been delightfully honed over time by a mightily skilled young man. It felt at one stage a couple of years ago that his mystery had worn off, but two five-wicket hauls are testament to an immense cricketer.
A-
Did not feature: Abu Jayed
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