Bangladesh will be keen to focus on developing their game in the Twenty20 format rather than resting on their laurels after finally breaking out of their cycle of defeat.
Bangladesh defeated the United Arab Emirates by four wickets in a practice match at the Fatullah Stadium on Wednesday, though their performance against weak opposition was hardly inspiring.
‘It could have been better,’ Bangladesh’s top scorer Tamim Iqbal said at the post-match press conference.
‘The start wasn’t good in bowling. We could have bowled better, especially the first six overs.
‘But we came back well in the end. They seemed like scoring 160-170, but we came back well.
‘Same goes with the batting. We probably tried to be too attacking early. We have one more game, and we will try to fix these problems in the next game by taking some more time,’ said Tamim, who scored a match-saving 44 runs.
‘Although T20 might seem like a small game, everyone has enough time. I am sure as a team we will discuss and ensure not to perform similar mistakes in the future.’
Tamim denied that the Tigers had taken the United Arab Emirates lightly after the players’ body language in the field raised some questions.
‘We lost seven games at a go, so we are not in a position to take matches easily. We are taking every match extremely seriously,’ said Tamim.
‘Our mistakes, in the last seven games, we are trying to work them out so that we don’t repeat them and return to the good position that we were in a few days back,’ he added.
Bangladesh had lost a combined nine consecutive ODIs and T20Is at home this year before Wednesday’s result.
Tamim, Bangladesh’s highest run-getter in Twenty20 Internationals, emphasized the importance of taking some time in the middle rather than going for shots immediately.
‘Taking singles is very important in T20 cricket. Power hitting is one thing. If batsmen take a little time, including me, then the big shots become easier, rather than hitting from the first ball,’ said Tamim.
‘If you face five balls and then go for a big shot, that will be easier according to me. So we have to work this thing out. If we can get singles, that pressure won’t come on us.’
‘First six overs we do need to take a little risk. We need to attack. We don’t have a massive hitter for instance like Pollard who can change the game towards the end. So the first six overs for us are very important for the Bangladesh cricket team,’ he added.
Tamim said that his health is improving and that he hopes to recover before the World Twenty20 opening match against Afghanistan on March 16.
‘I am better than before. I am not 100 per cent. Today there was no problem. Hopefully I will be fit by the 16th.’
-With New Age input
