Bangladesh spent a horrible last month losing in all formats in their home series against Sri Lanka and as expected it piled a huge pressure on the Tigers with the Asia Cup beginning from tomorrow. Hosts skipper Mushfiqur Rahim admitted the fact and said they look forward to bounce back in the Asia Cup, where they finished runner-up last time, from their misery.
“We will have to right the mistakes from the Sri Lanka series. The first thing we will have to do is play as a team and to perform for the team. We look forward to perform the way we did in last two years where we never played to win rather we played to be consistent and that got us the victories,” said Mushfiq to the media during a press conference held at the team hotel yesterday.
The wicketkeeper-batsman further added that if they keep performing in the same way they might even lose to Afghanistan, who plays very less international cricket.
“They [Afghanistan] are a big challenge for us. Though they don’t play as much international was we do but are a very good side. There are few good players in the team who played in the Dhaka Premier League last season and we know of their abilities. It will be tough for us to win against them if we play the way we did in the three ODIs against Sri Lanka to be honest but hope we will be able to move on from the past games and make a new start,” said Mushfiq.
The absence of two senior players Tamim Iqbal (neck injury) and all-rounder Shakib al Hasan (serving suspension and will miss first two matches) will affect the team’s strategy, said Mushfiq before adding, however, it also meant they have little to lose and thus the pressure will be less on them.
The 25-year-old also added that along with head coach Shane Jurgensen and other senior members of the team have requested the Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan to reduce Shakib’s suspension.
Shakib after found guilty by the BCB for breaching the ‘Code of Conduct’ was suspended for three ODIs and fined Tk300000. Shakib have already endured a game by not playing the last ODI against Sri Lanka.
“We spoke to Papon bhai (Nazmul Hasan) and have informed him that we respect the board’s decision and that one should be punished for such ill behavior in the dressing room. But we requested him to reduce the punishment for the sake of the Bangladesh team and reconsider the decision if there is any scope. The first two games in the Asia Cup are important for us and it will be good for the team to have his (Shakib) service,” informed Mushfiq.