It should feel like a World Cup game

The choice of which game to watch this morning (Ireland v. West Indies or England v. Bangladesh) was a no-brainer. Ireland are playing in an empty stadium at Mohali; Bangladesh are playing a home game. Doughty underdogs, yes, but this is a World Cup, and I like watching games that remind me I'm watching one. And hopefully, if Tamim gets off to a flyer, things will get really exciting.

Reunification of Pakistan called for?

OK, so 80 all out was bad. Now we have 72. Should West Pakistan and East Pakistan kiss and make-up and start fielding a combined team again? Or would the Bangladeshis object to such a weakening? They'd like the bowling attack, I'm sure? And surely the Pakistanis could do with Tamim? C'mon boys, swallow a little pride, and lets get some backbone out there.

See Tamim play; see Tamim entertain

If you haven't already, make sure you see the Tamim Iqbal innings that got the Dhaka test off to a flying start. It features some fantastic shots, all played panache and flair. You can find highlights here.

Slow down son

Meanwhile, down in New Zealand (more precisely at Seddon Park, Hamilton), Bangladesh are chasing 404 to win, and while that target is pretty unlikely, it gets even more so, when you see the following (in the sixth over of the innings):

5.3 Vettori to Tamim Iqbal, SIX, using his feet and smashes it over long on

5.4 Vettori to Tamim Iqbal, OUT, dances down the wicket again but can't get to the pitch and skies it long off. Tuffey takes a very important catch running backwards above his head

(And in the fourth over of the innings, Iqbal had hit four fours in a row off Southee). What was he trying to do? Score all 400 runs by himself within 50 overs? This sort of kamikaze batting is a depressingly common aspect of Bangladesh's game. I'm not quite sure whats required to rewire the neural pathways of their top order. (Respect where its due; they did manage a very decent 408 in the first innings).