Why Bangladesh Fell Short in This World Cup Campaign
Bangladesh’s World Cup campaign ended in disappointment. The Tigers managed to secure wins only against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, but they suffered defeats in the rest of their matches. Hopes were high for this team, especially given their strong performances in the 2022-23 season. However, despite the promise, Bangladesh fell short on the global stage. Here I will examine the core issues that led to this below-par performance.
Internal Conflicts
The root of Bangladesh’s failure can be traced to internal conflicts and ego clashes within the team, leading to instability in the dressing room. The ongoing Shakib-Tamim issue and a growing culture of lobbying created an atmosphere of tension. These conflicts took precedence over the game itself, and Bangladesh’s performance suffered as a result. Bangladeshi sports journalist Dev Dulal Chowdhury claims that the dressing room's unstable environment affected the players' mental state. He attributes this negative impact to the immature and unnecessary controversies stirred up by senior players. Ultimately, these internal issues laid the groundwork for the team’s collapse.
Instability in the Batting Order
Another critical issue was the lack of consistency in the batting order. Team management frequently shuffled players’ positions, preventing anyone from settling into a specific role. Each player has strengths suited to particular positions, and a stable order allows them to play to their strengths. Unfortunately, Bangladesh did not maintain a fixed batting order, leaving players unclear about their roles. For example, Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s position was frequently changed, undermining his ability to perform consistently. This instability in the batting lineup disrupted the entire team’s rhythm.
Lack of Preparation and Planning
The team’s lack of preparation and inadequate planning also contributed to its downfall. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) failed to prepare the team for the playing conditions at the World Cup. Unlike other teams, Bangladesh did not use sporting pitches at home, denying players the opportunity to adapt to similar conditions. The board also made critical errors in team selection, choosing only two genuine openers, Liton Kumar Das and Tanzid Hasan Tamim, without a backup plan. These oversights left the team vulnerable in critical situations.
Recruitment of Chandika Hathurusingha
Finally, the recruitment of Chandika Hathurusingha as head coach proved to be a misguided decision. His ineffective coaching and controversial decisions created friction within the team. A coach’s primary role is to manage players and foster a positive environment, yet Hathurusingha’s management style exacerbated internal conflicts. He is widely regarded as responsible for Tamim’s exclusion, and his strained relationship with senior players further divided the team.
Had there been harmony between players and coaching staff, a stable batting order, better preparation, and a more supportive coach, the outcome might have been different. Instead, these issues—internal conflicts, an unstable batting lineup, poor preparation, and the hiring of Chandika Hathurusingha—culminated in Bangladesh’s disappointing exit from the World Cup.
