Shakib Al Hasan, the captain of Bangladesh, identified the Tigers’ batting collapse as the primary cause of their devastating five-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in their Asia Cup first match yesterday in Pallekele.
After choosing to bat, the Tigers were bowled out for a pitiful 164 runs in 42.4 overs. For the Bangladeshi batsmen, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 89-run innings remained the lone noteworthy effort.
Shakib said that the Bangladeshi batsmen misjudged the surface and that a score of 220-230 would have been a respectable total to defend.
This wicket wasn’t worth 300 runs. “We would have had a better chance if we could have finished with a 220-230 score,” Shakib said at the post-game awards ceremony.
Shakib realized his performance with the bat left much to be desired, but he also stated that it was a collective batting failure. Shakib gloved one back to the wicketkeeper after scoring only five from 11 deliveries to leave the Tigers reeling at three for 36.
“I believe that [with the bat], I have greater responsibility. Unfortunately, I was unable to do it today. But as a team, we struggled at bat, which lost us the game. We need to gather ourselves because we have a crucial game coming up in a few days. To play better in the next game, we must use the lessons we’ve learned from this one,” Shakid said.
With Tanzid Hasan Tamim, making his debut, and Naim Sheikh in the opening partnership, the Tigers were under increasing pressure when Shakib was removed early in the innings.
Bangladesh’s next group stage match against Afghanistan on September 3 in Lahore has suddenly become a “do or die” situation. Shakib can only hope that his soldiers will be able to make up for their errors by then and salvage any chance of making it to the Super Four.
“When the game began, there were a lot of anxiety. By the twentieth over, the mood in the dressing room had warmed up as we continued to bat. In front of the away fans, several players are competing in the Asia Cup for the first time. From now on, I hope kids look ahead and take something away from them,” he remarked.
Additionally, Shakib expressed his belief in the squad players’ ability to perform under pressure.
“They are in the changing room because they are undoubtedly playing some excellent cricket. It’s only a matter of them being able to execute on the greatest moments, which is something I don’t doubt,” Shakib said.
Bangladesh’s bowlers made an early impression in defending a modest score, dismissing the top three Sri Lankan hitters to leave the hosts struggling at 43 for three during the Powerplay. To infuse some life and optimism into the Tigers’ camp, left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam and Shakib both claimed a wicket after pacer Taskin Ahmed dismissed opener Dimuth Karunaratne in the game’s third over.
“A few more wickets were required at that point when they [Sri Lanka] were three down upfront. Sadly, however, we were unable to get them. Spinners and pacers alike have been targeting hitters for a while now, performing their duties for a living. Though we got wickets, there wasn’t enough runs scored,” expressed sorrow, Shakib.