Desk Report:
If their favorite team plays badly, the spectators and supporters will be upset. They will sink into disappointment. They will burn with the pain of heartbreak. But the spectators are more upset than they are ‘annoyed’ with the performance of the Bangladesh team. Every team has its good and bad times. There is a pattern of winning and losing. The way Bangladesh makes an easy match so difficult or loses a match they won, makes you more annoyed than disappointed.
Bangladesh could not chase the target of 136 runs set by Pakistan in the unwritten semi-final in Dubai the day before yesterday. It is not that the opponent’s bowlers were not playing at all. Unnecessary haste, the tendency to play extra risky shots, the lack of proper planning by the team management, missing several catches, and not having captain Liton Das in important matches are behind the failure. However, the biggest problem is psychological. No matter how much Mushtaq Ahmed, the Pakistani spin consultant of the Bangladesh team, tries to spread ‘believe’ or faith in the team that we can; This trick does not seem to be of much use to Bangladeshi cricketers. The tiger of the mind chases them so much at 22 yards, like a madman, they want to play risky shots frequently in low-scoring matches. However, the match can be easily won by just playing basic cricket.
Commentator Athar Ali Khan will definitely come under the scanner for irresponsible batting by the batters. He was telling Fast Bangla in Dubai yesterday, ‘This accident is due to batting. The batters should have been a little calmer. Why so hasty? We are not chasing a big target. (Tawhid)’s heart was back in rhythm. If two of the first four batters score runs, then victory becomes easy. The mindset of the Bangladeshi team’s batters needs to be improved. Saif Hasan, Bangladesh’s achievement in this Asia Cup, has only played basic cricket, 62 percent of his shots have come from the V-zone. You can score runs in T20s without playing extra improvising shots.’
Pakistani legend Wasim Akram also said almost the same thing after the match the day before yesterday, ‘Batting has suffered for Bangladesh. They have played bad shots. Bangladesh has also missed captain Liton Das a lot. He was in great form. The injury that Liton got was beyond anyone’s control. Bangladesh lost here.’
Questions have also been raised about the process by which Zakir Ali was made captain after Liton’s injury. Athar has raised questions about several decisions made by the Bangladesh team management. Bangladesh has made changes in almost every match. Athar believes that so many frequent changes were not necessary, ‘We have to talk about team planning. 16 changes in 6 matches. It is a bit of a shock. Pacers are rested after playing one match. Rest policy to keep them fresh. But when I know that Taskin is a match-winning bowler, he was not played regularly. Sheikh Mehedi was not played regularly. When the team is playing well, it is not right to move the team too much. One or two changes can be made if necessary. Only your best players should be played regularly. Because, this is the stage of the Asia Cup. Sometimes changes can be acceptable due to right-handers, left-handers, team combinations. So 16 changes? It is difficult to accept.’
Bangladesh bowlers have performed exceptionally in the Asia Cup. Wasim, like many others, was impressed by it. The Pakistani legend showered praises on Taskin, Mustafiz and Rishad, ‘Taskin-Mustafiz did great. Of course, I have to talk about Rishad. This year I saw him in the PSL for Lahore Qalandars. He bowled great. Very talented cricketer. Excellent fielder. He has a good future.’
Bangladesh cricket has not lacked such talents like Rishad. But what is the value of individual performance, when the team does not get big success on the big stage.
