Written by Max Hatzoglou
Bangladesh HP Team is looking to carry over momentum from an historic Test win in Darwin as it prepares for the Study NT Top End T20 Series.
Players will also be pushing their case for national team call-ups with a big international ODI and T20 series coming up against India.
The Bangladesh side has seen current Test players Hassan Mahmod and Tanzid Hasan earn promotions off the back of strong performances in recent Top End Series. Both have featured in the Top End T20 Series across the past two seasons and played vital roles.
The High-Performance side was present at the Test match when its national team famously got over the line against Australia for the second time in history.
Bangladesh will begin its tournament in a blockbuster encounter against Nepal at TIO Stadium on Saturday, starting at 6pm local time.
Bangladesh HP captain and wicketkeeper Irfaan Shukkur is hoping to follow the success of his national team.
“We are really positive,” Shukkur told ntcricket.com.au.
“We are looking to triumph as our senior players did with the Australians.”
Bangladesh registered its first ever win over Australia in Australia with the nine-wicket victory.
Shukkur and his teammates made their way over to TIO Stadium on Sunday to witness the win before training began next door at DXC Arena.
“We did experience the winning moment at the ground as we had our practice after that,” he said.
“It is really special. We are really proud as Bangladeshis as the Australians are the best team in the world at the moment.”
Bangladesh batting allrounder, Sabbir Rahman, who scored 64 not out to nearly defeat England in a Test match in 2016, was pleased with the result.
“It’s a good achievement for us, they played really well,” Rahman said.
“This is the beginning, we are rising, hopefully we keep going with this momentum.”
HOW IS BANGLADESH SHAPING UP
The Bangladesh HP team has some top talent to keep an eye on this Top End T20 Series. There is some pace, there is some Test match experience and there are plenty of players who have been involved in the country’s premier T20 league, Bangladesh Premier League, before.
And with some top performances in this year's Top End Series, more players could be in line to follow the pathways of Tanzid Hasan and Hasan Mahmud, who have both gone on to represent the national team.
The younger brigade could also be set for further opportunities in the BPL with strong outings over the next fortnight.
All-rounder Shamim Hossain has been playing for the national team in T20Is recently. He scored 31 off 13 balls against New Zealand at Chattogram in the first of three T20Is in April. Hossain also played in three T20Is against Australia in June and got his highest BPL score of 81 last season for Dhaka Capitals.
“His experience will help us a lot as he has played a lot of international matches,” Shukkur said.
Fast bowler Ripon Mondol took 17 wickets in eight games last season for Rajshahi Warriors in the BPL. The 23-year-old, who has played five T20Is, claimed a career-best 4-13 in one match.
“For the last six to 12 months, he has been doing really well,” Shukkur said.
“We have got a good team. With a combination of young and experienced players, we will have a good tournament.”
PREVIOUS TOURNAMENTS
Bangladesh were the runners up the first time it played in the Top End T20 Series two years ago. Recent Tigers Test centurion, Tanzid Hasan, top scored for Bangladesh with 35 in the grand final, but it wasn’t enough as they fell 32 runs short in the run chase. Bangladesh finished ninth last year with a 2-4 record.
Bangladesh fast bowler, Hasan Mahmud, who took a match-defining and career-best 6-55 in the first innings of a historic Test win over Australia in Darwin last week, featured in last year's Top End T20 Series. Mahmud claimed eight wickets from five matches in the tournament last year.
Bangladesh squad: Irfaan Shukkur (Captain), Habibur Rahman Sohan, Jishan Alam, SM Meherob Hasan, Samiun Basir Ratul, Sabbir Rahman Roman, Rohanat Doullah Borson, Rakibul Hasan, Ariful Islam, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, Ripon Mondol, Md Rubel, Abu Hider Rony, Shamim Hossain, Mohammad Mrittunjoy Chowdhury. Md Sohel Islam (Head Coach)