Bangladesh national team cricketers will be looking to rectify their shortcomings ahead of next year’s ICC World Twenty20, said the national captain and the chief selector on Saturday.
Bangladesh A team thrashed the national team by eight wickets to clinch the three-match T20 Challenge Series 3-0 that severely dented the national side’s pride as they were outplayed in all departments.
The senior side’s bowlers – Mashrafee bin Murtaza, Sohag Gazi, Rubel Hossian and Abdur Razzak – could hardly restrict the A-team, led by Nasir Hossain, nor did their batsmen fare any better.
‘It was disappointing to lose the series in this manner. We were totally outplayed and that is a real concern as our weaknesses in bowling were exposed in the series,’ Mushfiq told the media after the prize distribution ceremony at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
‘Our bowlers have time to rectify their mistakes before the World T20. Earlier it was batting but somehow we managed to put up a respectable total in the last one year,’ said Mushfiq.
‘Now all we need to do is to work on our bowling in the first six overs and at the death. We wanted a flat wicket so that the bowlers remain under pressure but still then we should have minimised it,’ he said.
While Mushfiq was content with the batting, it was not the case with new chief selector Faruk Ahmed as he believed that the batsmen could not get on with the momentum that is essentially required for T20.
‘I think the middle-order batting could not get into groove as it lacked planning,’ said Faruk.
‘I think in T20 cricket, momentum is very important and that is what we lacked unlike the 50-over game where you can hit and then slow down before going for big shots at the end,’ the chief selector said.
‘I think this was a practice match but it was evident that a T20 game is very unpredictable though you cannot take the credit away from the A team. They really played hard and won it convincingly,’ said Faruk.
‘But at the same time this was not a typical A team as some of the players are regulars in the national side,’ said Faruk, referring to two performers Nasir Hossain and Mominul Haque.
While the national team management remained concerned about the blemishes, Nasir believed that they lost because of overconfidence.
‘I think the national team were a bit relaxed as it is the case when they are pitted against any A-team,’ said Nasir.
‘The A-team players were determined to show their capabilities. It was the case with me as well because of the atmosphere in our dressing room,’ he added.
-With New Age input
