Cricket is a sport where only physical ability is not enough. Mental strength is also required in order to overcome a crunch situation.
Without a shadow of a doubt, sledging or verbal exchanges between opposition players has been a common sight of modern cricket in recent times. Sledging is often used as a tactic to frustrate the opponent mentally.
Therefore, if a player is mentally vulnerable, he is susceptible to breaking down during a game, which sometimes has a negative influence on his performance. Similarly, if a player is mentally resolute, then he will be more than capable of handling a difficult scenario, thus enhancing his prospects of displaying a good performance.
Ever since attaining the Test status back in 2000, the Tigers have come a long way as far as sledging is concerned. In the early stages, the Bangladesh cricketers, in response to the opposition’s wrath, replied with a mere smile. But, as time went on, the Tigers have shown their mettle, thanks to the current batch of fearless cricketers like Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib al Hasan.
Among the trio, Mushfiq, Bangladesh’s Test captain and former ODI skipper, reaffirmed that sledging is indeed a part of cricket but it has its limits. “Obviously, sledging is part of cricket, why should it not be? If it helps my team to get the momentum, it is always fair. But, it has its limits,” Mushfiq told Dhaka Tribune recently.
The chirpy Tamim is probably the most verbal amongst the Bangladesh cricketers. Most of the Tigers’ squad members unanimously agreed that the marauding opener leads the way when it comes to riling up any opposition cricketer. “Most of the times, Tamim bhai interacts with the opponent. He often frustrates the opposition batsmen while he is fielding,” opening batsman Anamul Haque told Dhaka Tribune.
One of Tamim’s recent exchanges came in the second Test against the West Indies in the Caribbean last year. It was West Indian batsman Darren Bravo who started it all.
“Why don’t you pay the cricketers money?” Bravo inquired Tamim, poking fun at the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 where several West Indian cricketers participated.
Tamim replied without hesitation, “Don’t come to our country and beg for money.”
The verbal clash between Zimbabwe batsman Hamilton Masakadza and Tamim last month is also another example.
Upon being dismissed, Masakadza expressed his dismay with the umpire’s decision. As the burly Masakadza was refusing to leave the ground, Tamim dished out an earful which no doubt annoyed the Zimbabwean batsman.
Tamim was fined following the end of the game but according to the Chittagong cricketer, he is happy to be punished if his team is benefitted. “I think sledging is part of cricket. I try to frustrate the opponent which sometimes helps us. I am happy if my team benefit from my conversations or comments towards the opposition cricketers,” Tamim told Dhaka Tribune.
The hard-hitting opener went on to inform that he always gets into a heated conversation with veteran New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori whenever they meet in the field. “We always had heated conversations on the field and he always tries to tempt me. However, it’s nothing personal,” Tamim added.
Sports psychologist Ali Khan on the other hand informed Dhaka Tribune that only a cricketer who is mentally strong can use it to a positive effect.
“Look, there is always a positive or negative reaction to sledging. If a cricketer is mentally tough and applies those words in a positive way, then he can dominate,” he said.
With the 2015 ICC World Cup knocking at the door, the Tigers should also concentrate on their mental aspects besides honing their technique and skill. However, all the mental preparation might not be required at all as the International Cricket Council recently announced they would clamp down on any on-field confrontation in the mega event. It remains to be seen whether the guidelines are followed.
If they aren’t, then the Bangladesh fans need not worry as the Tigers are more than capable of looking after themselves.
