Bangladesh v West Indies, 1st ODI, Mirpur 2011

"Can Bangladesh live up to prospect"

When Mushfiqur Rahim to shut with force the penultimate ball of the tour opener for a match-winning six, the packed stands in Mirpur erupted as one. It was a spontaneous expression of joy from a crowd that hadn't seen their side winning a Twenty20 international since 2007. But the reaction also underlined the dangerous extremes inhabited by the Bangladesh cricket fan. While their team has struggled to shed the minnow tag - the occasional series wins against West Indies and New Zealand notwithstanding - the fans have tended to look at each victory as a new dawn, and every defeat as a national slight.  

 

Mushfiqur's biggest challenge as he takes over the leadership will be finding ways to manage these unfair expectations. It was a challenge that caught up with Shakib Al Hasan during Bangladesh's roller-coaster World Cup campaign. One day he was joking with journalists, relieved after a hard-fought win against Ireland, only for the video to go viral and earn him brickbats after the crushing loss to West Indies. When Bangladesh somehow scrambled to victory against England in their next game, Shakib was in tears - the reaction of a man forced to live on the edge. 

 The exclusion of Devendra Bishoo caught up with them on the spinner-friendly Mirpur surface, but they are unlikely to repeat the gaffe on the same pitch. The visitors will also be bolstered by the inclusion of Kieron Pollard, who has developed a reputation for minnow-bashing. The biggest worry for the visitors will be their middle order's dodginess against Bangladesh's platoon of left-arm spinners. The in-form Marlon Samuels will remain their point man, but can Darren Bravo and the rest play around him?