Bangladesh skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza hailed their Wednesday’s five-wicket win over Pakistan as their biggest achievement in Twenty20 format and hoped it will give them a perfect boost for the ICC World Twenty20 in India. Mashrafee, who led the Tigers from the front with 12 crucial runs, said he always believed that Bangladesh would reach the final despite losing their opening match to India.
‘As far as Twenty20 is concerned it is one of the biggest wins because a very important tournament is coming up or us, we have to play and qualify as well. Boys can be boost up,’ Mashrafee said after the match.
Mashrafee took a very courageous decision when he promoted himself up in the order at a crunch moment of the match with Bangladesh still requiring 26 runs from 16 balls.
The decision, which Mashrafee said was prompted by coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, proved to be a masterstroke as the skipper hit Mohammad Amir two fours in the first two balls he faced, putting the pressure back on Pakistan.
‘Hathurusinghe told me that the ball was reverse swinging. If Sakib gets out in the first one or two deliveries of the over you go ahead of [Mohammad] Mithun,’ he said.
Mashrafee hoped the win also relieved Mahmudullah after he failed to steer Bangladesh home in a similar situation in the final match of Asia Cup in 2012 against the same opponents.
Bangladesh needed nine runs in the last over with Mahmudullah and Abdur Razzak at the crease in 2012.
But they fell short by two runs for a heartbreaking loss.
‘I was sure that we could win if we go to the last over this time,’ said Mashrafee. ‘I wanted him [Mahmudullah] to hit the winning shot. I wanted him to hit the ball.’
-With New Age input
