Azad Majumder
The decision to give Rubel Hossain the ball during the crucial power play against Sri Lanka had earned the Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful severe criticisms as it cost the team the match and the championship.
But Ashraful had at least some point to defend himself after that Tri-nation Cup final as it could have happened to any other bowler as well. Rubel had taken four wickets in the previous game and naturally he was expected to repeat the magic.
And Ashraful also did not have too many options. He did not use Mahmudullah Riyad for a single over earlier, so the captain had to take a serious gamble if he was to call the off-spinner.
But the situation was totally different when Bangladesh played against Zimbabwe on Monday and lost yet another close game by an identical margin. The skipper this time did Riyad some favour giving him the ball in the middle of the Zimbabwe innings to prove his mettle.
Riyad did more than what he was asked to, bowling six overs to concede only seven runs. More importantly, he gave Bangladesh a crucial breakthrough dismissing a dangerous-looking debutant Malcolm Waller to reduce Zimbabwe to seven for 72.
Naturally he was expected to continue his bowling and complete his first spell, but Ashraful suddenly stopped him. It gave an impression that the bowler might be awarded his second spell in the closing stages. But when the time finally came Ashraful instead preferred his pet boy Rubel Hossain.
Ashraful is said to have a poor off-field relation with the Mymensing lad, which many thought would never affect Bangladesh’s game plan. But given the manner the Bangladesh captain handled the all-rounder in the last two games, it raises some suspicion.
Ashraful, however, said it was nothing personal and the bowler was not given his last four overs for his lack of confidence. Without mentioning his name, Ashraful said he preferred Rubel Hossain at the death because the other bowlers failed to come up with enough confidence.
His few remarks at the post-match press conference at least made one thing clear that the skipper did not have enough courage to take any crucial decision on his own and he also lacked the power to motivate the bowlers.
Mashrafee bin Murtaza did not want to bowl during the third power play, so he finished the 10-over quota of his deputy at a stretch that left Bangladesh looking like they are playing with a bowler short in the final few overs.
‘We do have some plan about who will bowl after whom. And Mashrafee also did not want to bowl in the third power play. Besides, I thought if he can get another wicket the match will turn to our favour,’ he said.
The skipper partly shifted the blame on coach Jamie Siddons when he was asked about his decision to bat after winning the toss on a damp pitch and murky overhead condition. Bangladesh could not score any run in the first three overs and had wait for 24 balls to get their first run from the bat, making a mockery of his decision.
‘We had expected the ball to move only in the first 10 overs. The wicket turned harder in the second half during our previous matches, so we decided to take the risk,’ said Ashraful.
Ashraful admitted that he had taken consent from coach Jamie Siddons before making the choice though it was unexpected from a team that failed to score 200 runs in their last two 50-over games.
Courtesy: newagebd.com
