It might appear that Bangladesh's winning formula against non-Asian teams is just an unplayable pitch in their backyard. But it might be a bit more than that - it's also about clinching big moments while being consistent with their selection, not things they have always been known for.
Back-to-back series wins over Australia and New Zealand, in a summer in which they have won nine out of 12 T20Is, have given Bangladesh a new outlook in the format, and coach Russell Domingo has been a central figure in that success.
They have often viewed T20Is with trepidation, even as most other teams have worked out what works best for them. Bangladesh are competitive in ODIs and improving in Tests, but they have been quite poor in T20Is. Which explains why they have to go through the first round of the upcoming T20 World Cup, to try and qualify for the main competition, the Super 12s.
The series wins over Australia and New Zealand, however, have put Bangladesh in a positive frame of mind going into the tournament, and one sign of the progress they've made, according to Domingo, is how they seized the big moments against those two opponents.
"In a lot of these tight games, when winning and losing were down to small margins, we won the big moments," Domingo told ESPNcricinfo. "We held our nerve with the ball under pressure against Australia. In one or two chases we were under pressure, we held our nerve with the bat. I think we played the big pressure moments really well in both series, and that's what caught my eye.
"These are two sides we never beat in T20Is before, so I am very happy with the composure the boys have shown."
Domingo's consistency in selection has helped. His desire to give players longer runs in the side can come across as rigidity, but Domingo truly believes in the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' mantra. Against New Zealand, Bangladesh had the same playing XI for four consecutive matches in a series, which was a first. The side changed only after the series was clinched.
"I am not a guy who likes chopping and changing, especially after we lose," Domingo said. "I don't want to make too many changes. I want to give guys confidence in their roles. An extended run is something that I always try to do.
Mahmudullah, who recently became the first Bangladesh cricketer to play 100 T20Is, is among a group of three senior cricketers in the side, alongside Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan, after Tamim Iqbal skipped the last three series and then pulled out of the T20 World Cup.
Mustafizur Rahman, who appears to have rediscovered his mojo in recent times, has been another key performer, regularly bowling well at the death and picking up wickets. "
