The pleasant mildness of Bangladesh's World Cup build-up

Apart from seeing how the injured Tamim Iqbal did in the nets, Bangladesh's training session on the day before their World Cup opener against South Africa was an unexciting affair. After going back to the hotel, some of them would have iftar in their rooms while others may go out for dinner. In a foreign land where cricket is not exactly a national obsession, the players enjoy a mildness of everything.

That is usually not how Bangladesh does cricket. The hype, especially when they play at home, is suffocating. Everything becomes manic, a trigger for something bigger. from MS Dhoni-Mustafizur colliding mid-pitch or Shakib Al Hasan giving Ben Stokes the salute. Nothing can be swept under the carpet. Heck, there are no carpets. The Bangladesh team now operates on a crystal-clear floor where everything is seen clearly and heard loudly.

The main stirrer of the pot is the BCB president himself. Nazmul Hassan is very hands-on. He often goes out and tells the media exactly how he feels about the team, from who should be in the XI and how they should be playing.

That obviously gets picked up by the mainstream media. Then social media. And on and on it goes, spawning fake news. Recently, Imrul Kayes had to dispel rumors of his retirement after he was ignored from the World Cup squad.

But the thing is, this time, even at home, there isn't much of a buzz. Don't get me wrong. People still plan to hold watching parties or go out to restaurants or outdoor screenings or just watch with family and friends. There is no drop in interest, but there is a pleasant drop in intensity.

The Bangladesh players spent 17 days in Ireland where they won a tri-series against the hosts and West Indies. But because it was in the shadow of the World Cup, the victory almost went unnoticed. It was their first trophy out of a multi-team tournament. It should have come with some fanfare - which was the case when they beat Pakistan and India and South Africa in the space of four months in 2015. But maybe the change in tone is not a bad thing.

When asked about the lack of buzz around the Bangladesh team, the captain Mashrafe Mortaza said, "It depends whether the hype is necessary or unnecessary. Many people are boasting that we have already reached the semi-finals, or even won the World Cup. We are nowhere near favourites in the World Cup. South Africa are favourites tomorrow. Having said that, we will also try to give our best, up to our preparations and ability.

"Some people create unnecessary hype. But those who analyse cricket, they keep us long way back but we are fighting against their opinion. These things go on ahead of the tournament. I think the players should focus on what has produced this expectation."

Mashrafe has been part of World Cup campaigns in 2003, 2007 and 2015. He watched the 2011 edition, co-hosted by Bangladesh, from the sidelines. And he believes the hype is more now.

"I think there was less expectations last time. Your lot have also been talking it up. Maybe some of our players have started to believe in it. Sometimes it brings out the best in them, but I am wary that it might also create pressure. Players should be focused on their main job, and not what the talk is about.

"We are treating this as another tournament, and our players have to understand that this game is another international match. We will feel more pressure if we take all the talks of expectations to the field."

Mashrafe is correct in saying that the No. 7-ranked team cannot be tipped to win the World Cup even before they play a single match. But that doesn't really stop the team's more radical fans from amping them up on Facebook and Twitter. And that is exactly why some in the know are happy the players don't pay too much mind to all the noise that is around them.

"I am not surprised but I am relieved that the players are not so active on social media," Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Bobby, a BCB director and well-known cricket administrator since the late 1970s, said. "Sometimes unnecessary activities can be counterproductive. It has never helped the players in any way. Perhaps it is a way to connect with your fans, so sticking to that is okay. The tournament has started couple of days ago but it is about to start for our team. So I don't want to pre-empt anything."

Bobby also said that his colleagues should not be in the news so often. "I think for us, it is best to stay away from the media. I don't know what purpose it serves," he said. "We should leave the playing to the players, coaching staff, management and selectors."

And, according to Bobby, this low-key setting ahead of a very big match against South Africa, has been several years in the making. "In 1999, it was about participation, which was a matter of great elation for all of us. In 2011, we hosted the tournament which raised the expectations level. We also realised that we should make some headway in the field too

"In 2019, it is no longer about only participation. We are seeking real achievements, so maybe we are a bit cautious about expressing ourselves. Which is why the ecstasy may be missing."