Mashrafe: South Africa series thrashing alarming

Tigers ODI captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza said their overall disappointing performance in the away tour against host South Africa is quite alarming for Bangladesh cricket, especially considering that the 50-over World Cup is one and a half years away. Bangladesh lost the two-match Test series comprehensively against the Proteas, and also the three-ODI series, putting up no competition whatsoever as South Africa were way ahead in all departments, be it batting, bowling or fielding. Often sub-continent teams and even the other big cricketing nations struggle in South Africa. But the way the Tigers were defeated in the three ODIs, particularly on batting pitches, is a big concern for them, bearing in mind their good performance in the 50-over format over the last few years.

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Also read: Early wickets cost Bangladesh the match, says Mashrafe

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“We were behind them in all aspects of the game. We lost badly in all the matches. There will be flat wickets in places like South Africa and New Zealand, so our bowlers have to learn how to bowl there. It is alarming that it has been happening since the (2017) Champions Trophy, so we have to look after it,” Mashrafe said after the ODI series thrashing Sunday at Buffalo Park. “This tour has been alarming for Bangladesh cricket and with the World Cup coming up, we as a playing unit have to look after these things quickly,” he added.

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Also read: South Africa seal convincing series sweep over Bangladesh

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Bangladesh produced some individual performances in the ODI series as wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim scored a century and a fifty and all-rounder Shakib al Hasan and opener Imrul Kayes made a half-century apiece. But individual performance is not enough to win matches as team effort is required to achieve success, says Mashrafe. “There have been one or two performances but not total team effort. It will be hard for us to win in these conditions if a number of our players don’t perform together,” the 34-year old added.