Desk Report:
After losing to India, Bangladesh’s path to the final has become difficult for them. Bangladesh will play Pakistan in Dubai today in less than 24 hours. Acting captain Zaker Ali Anik has identified where the team needs to improve before entering the unwritten semi-finals.
Bangladesh was on the verge of winning against India last night in Dubai. Chasing a target of 169 runs, Bangladesh, led by Zaker, were 57 for 2 after 9 overs. At the moment when more than 10 runs per over were to be scored, Saif Hasan eased the pressure on the team by hitting Axar Patel for a six. With a single on the next ball, Towhid gave Hridoy a strike. But on the fourth ball of the tenth over, Hridoy was caught at long on by Abhishek Sharma. The same incident was repeated in the next over. After receiving a strike from Saif, Shamim Hossain Patwary was bowled by Varun Chakraborty.
Not only Hridoy, Shamim, but Parvez Hossain Emon, Mohammad Saifuddin, Rishad Hossain have also been out after hitting four sixes. According to Zaker, one has to bat according to the match situation. At a press conference after the India match last night in Dubai, the 27-year-old Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter said, “You don’t have to hit empty sixes. You have to play the way the match is going. It won’t be right to think only about hitting sixes. You have to score runs too. I am working on that.”
Saif Hasan is like a fish’s life. It would not be wrong to say this after the India match. He got four lives of 40, 65, 66, 67. He played with one edge in front of his teammates while his teammates came and went. Saif scored 69 runs off 51 balls with 3 fours and 5 sixes. Zaker was full of praise for this opener who has scored fifties in two consecutive matches. Zaker said at the press conference, “He is batting very well. The way he is batting with confidence after so long is good for the team. Others will also be inspired. He will do well in the next match, Insha Allah.’
Chasing a target of 169 runs, Bangladesh were bundled out for 127 runs in 19.3 overs last night. India advanced to the final with a 41-run win. The winner of today’s Bangladesh-Pakistan match will play against Suryakumar Yadav-led India in the final. The final will be held in Dubai on September 28.
