Bring Back The Rebels

Bangladesh cricket has been suffering from a maddening "almost there, if only" syndrome: so close to victory, only to slip to defeat at the last minute.

The problem is with the top order batsmen. "If only we could have put 20 more runs..." I don't think there's disagreement on this. Captain Ash also concurs, though he doesn't admit often that he himself is part of the problem.

The top order is fragile, underconfident, reckless at the wrong time, defensive at the wrong time too, psychologically inept, too young, too green, patently immature in match temperament, and pretty much unable yet to read the game and its needs as it progresses. 

Compare it to any other team besides Zimbabwe. Bangladesh's top-order batsmen are not ready for the real world. 

There's some people who'd disagree, but I'd think mostly on an emotional, not a rational basis.

They're mostly the same people who have also punished a so-called rebel group of cricketers for defecting from the national camp.

It's time to bring those rebels back. 

The rebel top order has performed remarkably well in the Indian Cricket League, against high-quality opposition. Shahriar Nafees, Aftab Ahmed, Nazimuddin, and Alok Kapali have all been in form.

Kapali hammered the first century ever in that league, a 60-ball 100. Nazimuddin's 29-ball 54 helped Dhaka Warriors crush Delhi Giants. Aftab's cameos have boosted team scores by 20-to-30-odd runs in a blink.

Nafees has also rediscovered his form as an opener. His 60-ball unbeaten 73 helped his team romp to a 8-wicket victory over Chandigarh Lions.

And through it all, they have gained the experience of playing under pressure and being able to snatch both thumping wins and last-minute edge-out type thrillers.

They are solid cricketers. By barring them for 10 years from national cricket, the Bangladesh Cricket Board not only prioritized emotion over rationality, but short-term punishment over game development. 

And there's no reason for BCB, or any cricket board, to keep pandering to ICC's rule to legitimize only those cricketers who play official forms and leagues of cricket. Cricketers should be able to play wherever, within constraints of their contractual commitments.

ICC's rule is there only for ICC's sake, to maintain its monopoly which eventually funds its bureaucracy. And there's no good reason (except money and ego) for ICC to outlaw the Indian Cricket league, the original, mind you, and approve the Indian Premier League, the copycat.

So imagine this top order: Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees, Nazimuddin/Aftab Ahmed, Mohammad Ashraful, Alok Kapali, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah/Raqibul Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (backup: Dhiman Ghosh), Naeem Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza, Nazmul Islam/Rubel Hossain.

Give em a little time to rebuild team chemistry and they will bring wins, definitely.