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TIGERS look to home advantage

1st ODI against Kiwis today

BISHWAJIT ROY
It would not be whollY illogical if someone stuck the tag of favourites on the Tigers ahead of their three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which kicks off today with the a day-night game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Since the arrival of the Black Caps in the capital, there has been much reminiscing on the Tigers' 4-0 'Banglawash' three years back. And that was the theme when the two captains - Mushfiqur Rahim and Brendon McCullum - talked to the media in a pre-match press conference yesterday at Mirpur.
For their part, New Zealand have made it clear from the very beginning that the new-look side are not interested in digging up the 2010 ghost, nor in any thoughts of revenge. However, regardless of whether 2010 is on the minds of the visitors, it is the home team who will have to forget those sweet memories. The onus, in fact, is on Mushfiqur Rahim's men to keep performing consistently to prove that they are a tough one-day side at home and to cement their reputation as a fast-improving ODI side.
Despite New Zealand's good show-ing in GDIs - the young outfit won six out of eleven matches with series wins against England and South Africa - Bangladesh have the slight edge not because of their historic result in their last meet at the very same venue and their recent impressive performance in the drawn Test series, but because of their continuing success at home since that magnificent achievement in 2010.
Bangladesh have won 16 out of 38 matches since that whitewash, 12 of them coming at home from 28 games - noteworthy among them being their brilliance in the Asia Cup and the 3-2 series victory over West Indies last year. These statistics reveal a formidable team in their own conditions. And the most refreshing fact was that the Tigers clinched the 4-0 victory without dashing opener Tamim Iqbal and pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza before winning the West Indies series sans inspirational all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan; results that justify the team thinktank's claim that the number of performers has increased in the side.
"In some way all the positive stats sometimes creates pressure, but this team is very confident of handling the pressure and expectations," said former national skipper turned selector Habibul Bashar.
Bearing in mind their aforementioned successes without star players, skipper Mushfiqur will be buoyed by the fact that he will have the services of his three stalwarts -Shakib (although the all-rounder, suffering from fever, is doubtful for today's game), Tamim and Mashrafe - when he takes on the challenge to improve their home record against the Kiwis, with whom they are now locked at 5-5.
The slow bowlers have always played a big role in Bangladesh's home wins and they dictated terms in the 4-0 win against the Kiwis, but Mashrafe is always a vital force when he in the side. The return from injury of the 'Narail Express' is expected to bolster the struggling pace attack but the question of whether the paceman can bowl with his full venom on his international return after a long break remains.
History however suggests that the talismanic paceman can be trusted to deliver.
In the face of political turmoil, the national cricket team - a symbol of unity - can bring a smile to their millions of fans and they have the records in their favour to do it. With the weather expected to hold up, they only need to apply themselves and play to their potential, regardless of whether they are favoured by the coin toss in the day-night affair.