Bangladesh keen to end losing streak against South Africa

Bangladesh’s only memorable moment against South Africa came in their victory in a match in the 2007 World Cup.

Since then, the Tigers have no victory under their belts against the Proteas, even in familiar home condition.
 
But from the team’s captain to coach, all are of the view that they now have the perfect opportunity to reverse the string of losses.
 
Their victory against so-called big teams is no longer considered as a fluke.
 
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s charges are constantly performing well barring only two teams – South Africa and Australia, against whom the Tigers have only one victory each.
 
Their win against the Aussies, scripted by a brilliant Mohammad Ashraful, in the 2005 NatWest Trophy in Cardiff and the 2007 World Cup victory against South Africa, riding on yet another brilliant Ashraful show, are the only high points.

The Cardiff victory is the Tigers’ lone win against Australia in the 26 times the two teams faced each other in three formats, while triumph against South Africa in 2007 is the only one in 24 matches.
 
However, in-form Bangladesh will this time play both these teams on their home soil.
 
Australia will be touring Bangladesh in September, while South Africa are already here.
 
Bangladesh lost all the ten previous matches against South Africa at home. Barring the five-wicket defeat in Mirpur Test in 2008, the hosts had miserably lost all other matches.
 
Even in their last encounter, Bangladesh suffered an embarrassing defeat.

Chasing South Africa’s 284 in a 2011 World Cup match in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, the home team was all-out for a paltry 78.
 
But this Bangladesh team is far different than the earlier ones. It has been transformed under the leadership of Mashrafe.
 
“We have got an opportunity this time to improve our records against South Africa,” the captain told bdnews24.com.
 
“We are now a very confident ODI team. We take to the field to win and our attitude against South Africa will also not change. 
 
“But, as I said earlier, it will be a tough task. South Africa are a far more balanced team than India. However, we are playing well and want to maintain this momentum,” he said.

He also viewed the upcoming series to do some self-assessment.
 
“After the win against Pakistan and India, this is our biggest challenge. South Africa are a strong side. After this series, we will know where we stand,” he said.
 
Tamim Iqbal, who played a useful knock of 38 as opener in the 2007 World Cup match, wants to revive the memory of that victory.
 
“This is of course our best chance against South Africa. If we play as good as we have been playing recently, then definitely we can beat them this time,” he said.

Habibul Bashar, who captained the Bangladesh team during that World Cup campaign, too, believes it is the time for Bangladesh to achieve something remarkable against the Proteas. 
 
Bashar is now a selector.
 
“In the past, our team was never in good shape ahead of home series against South Africa. But this time, the team is playing well. Players are in form. 
 
“Even the mental makeup of the team is very good. We have a very good chance of defeating South Africa,” he said.
 
He said the team could do well in the ODIs.
 
“We are not yet a very good T20 side. We don’t even get to play regularly in that format. They play a lot of matches in T20 leagues around the world. 
 
“But in one-dayers, we are a very confident side. I see better prospect in ODIs,” he added.
 
The incumbent ODI captain agrees.

“The other day while going though some statistics, I found that six to seven of their players play regularly in different IPL teams. They are also familiar with the condition. 
 
“So a win in T20 will be very difficult for us. Comparatively, we play better cricket in ODIs,” Mashrafe said.
 
Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha is, however, not willing to dwell too much in the past.
 
"I don't believe in history. History is there to change. It is how we go about doing it is key. We are not part of history. We are part of present and what we do here now is important.
 
“I constantly tell them how good they are and what they can do. There is no reason why they can’t do it,” he said.
 
In this series, the two teams will play two T20I matches, three ODIs and two Tests.
 
The challenge to change history will start with the first T20 game at Mirpur on Sunday.