Bangladesh skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza said the unexpected ban on paceman Taskin Ahmed created so much jolt that it affected their performance in the World Twenty20.
Mashrafee on the team’s arrival from India on Sunday explained the causes of their failure in the tournament, where they lost their all of their Super-10 matches. including a narrow defeat from a potential winning position against India.
The International Cricket Council banned Taskin and left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny from bowling in international cricket before their match against Australia in Bangalore on March 21.
Bangladesh made a frantic bid to have Taskin back in the middle of the tournament but lost a review appeal as a judicial commissioner upheld the ban after a lengthy hearing.
‘In the last eight matches, his economy rate was best in the world. So, it was always difficult to lose him,’ Mashrafee said at the Hazrat Shahjalal International airport on Sunday.
‘The way he was bowling, we had our plan set around him.
‘We had to change the entire game plan. Before the Australia game when he was banned we could not hold our attitude due to this shock.
‘We all accepted the problem in Sunny’s action. Even Sunny himself accepted it.
‘It was in a stage we knew it needed to be rectified. Sunny was prepared for it. But Taskin’s ban was a complete shock for us’, said Mashrafee.
Many experts and former cricketers around the world also raised their eyebrows regarding the ban on the young fast bowler.
‘It’s not just us, people from other countries hold the same view,’ he said.
‘Those, who have the experience in this regard, they agreed Taskin’s action had no problem. Still he was reported. So there remain some questions.’
Bangladesh batsmen made a hara-kiri act when they required just two runs off last three balls
against India throwing their last three wickets to be beaten by a run. But the skipper said it was just unfortunate.
‘We made a comeback in the next match but the result did not come to our way. I think we would win from such situation in any other day but on that day we lost unfortunately.’
Despite a difficult tour and many changes in the combination, all-rounder Nasir Hossain, who has been an experienced campaigner in all the three formats, did not get a chance to play.
Mashrafee said that it was a team decision and he still hopes that the right-hander will serve Bangladesh for years to come.
‘It’s a team decision, we take the decision together,’ Mashrafee said about the decision of Nasir’s exclusion from the side.
‘He could not be fitted in the team for combination. Nasir is a good player.
‘I backed him up a since World Cup 2015. He is a very effective player.
‘I think he will improve his game and serve the team for many more years. I also wish that.’
Mashrafee wanted to take positives from the tournament where they beat the Netherlands and Oman and took a point from a rain-ruined match against Ireland to qualify for the Super-10 phase.
‘Still there are few positives for us to take from this World Twenty20,’ said Mashrafee.
‘We could create a base for us in Twenty20 format. Building this mindset among the players was important.
‘From now on whoever we face if we don’t keep making small mistakes it will not be easy to win against us.
‘This is what I believe. You have to believe that you can win.
‘If you believe you can win against any opposition. We could not do it in Twenty20 format in the past.’
Mashrafee also showed his gratitude to Tigers’
supporters for their
support and believes the team will bring many more occasions for the spectators to rejoice.
‘It’s natural that our countrymen were shocked after our defeat against India. But I believe we will win many tough matches in future. Boys will bring rejoice to them.’
-With New Age input
