Tigers back in tri-series business with World Cup in mind

Bangladesh are set to resume their tri-series campaign as they face Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, opening a vital phase of preparation ahead of next year's ODI World Cup in South Africa. The team has played very few tri-nation series in recent years, creating a distinct challenge when it comes to adjusting quickly to different conditions and opponents.

Since claiming their maiden tri-nation title in Ireland in 2019, the Tigers have not featured in an ODI series of this format. Their last tri-series appearance came in the T20 format in 2022, when Pakistan faced New Zealand in the final ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia. The upcoming campaign in the UAE features a single round-robin format, with Bangladesh taking on Afghanistan on October 21 before the final on October 23 in Sharjah.

Chief selector Habibul Bashar emphasized that every single fixture leading up to the marquee event carries immense weight for the squad. "Whenever we plan, we keep our future goals in mind -- and right now, our primary focus is the ODI World Cup. Everything we do revolves around that plan. Whether it’s a tri-series or a bilateral series, every match leading up to the World Cup is extremely important for us. In this tri-series, there are only two matches before the final, so there is no room to lag behind," Habibul stated.

The former captain noted that while international teams play each other frequently, adaptability based on venue conditions remains key. "If you look at our squad, it is a fairly experienced team. Although we play fewer tri-nation series now, we have the Asia Cup coming up, so this acts as a valuable dress rehearsal. Having only two group matches before the final makes it crucial for us to finish the series well -- and finishing well means winning the tournament," he added.

Looking further ahead to the World Cup in October, Bangladesh are drawn in Group B and will open their campaign against England in Namibia on October 8. Subsequent group fixtures include matches against New Zealand in KuGompo City on October 12, Sri Lanka in Durban on October 16, South Africa at the same venue on October 19, and Qualifier B in Tshwane on October 23.

Bashar also suggested that playing a similar tri-series in Namibia prior to the World Cup would provide an ideal rehearsal for the squad. "I thought about it because we haven’t played much in Namibia, though we have played in South Africa. Namibia is slightly different from South Africa -- it has a higher altitude, and the pitches aren’t quite as good as South Africa’s. In this World Cup, we must perform right from the first match; if we drop behind early, making a comeback will be very difficult," he explained.

Historically, the Tigers' record in tri-series indicates that securing the trophy will demand a monumental effort, having claimed only one title in 13 attempts while losing the finals to Sri Lanka in 2009 and 2018. However, the nation's cricket history boasts iconic milestones, including their first-ever ODI victory against Kenya in the 1998 Coca-Cola Triangular Series in India and a famous triumph over Australia in Cardiff during the NatWest Series.