Bangladesh speedster and vice-captain Taskin Ahmed said the experience gained from the three-match Twenty20 international series against the USA and the lone official warm-up, against India, will help the side going into the main event of the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Bangladesh in their first Group D game will take on Sri Lanka at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas early Saturday morning, Bangladesh standard time.
The Tigers have come into the tournament on the back of a humiliating 2-1 series loss against 18th ranked USA and defeat against India in the official warm-up match.
A below par performance from the batting unit, particularly the top order, was the chief reason behind the losses.
Though concerns remain, Taskin while speaking on Bangladesh’s expectation from the 20-team tournament said: “It is difficult to comment on this but the expectation is always to win every game. The aim is clear but it doesn’t always go the way you want. We have played the USA series and the warm-up match [against India], so we have gathered idea on the situation that will be prevailing during the games and how to deal with it. I think the result will come our way if we can put a good score on the board, or even if it’s a low scoring game.”
Taskin, who was named the vice-captain right before Bangladesh travelled to USA, has been recovering from a rib-fracture which he sustained during the fourth T20I against Zimbabwe last month.
The right-arm pacer missed the USA series but expected to make a return in Bangladesh’s tournament opener, against Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh trained at Mustangs Cricket Academy in Dallas Tuesday as the main venue was occupied for the game between the Netherlands and Nepal.
Bangladesh cricketers mostly concentrated on batting on the artificial turf of the indoor facilities of the Mustangs Academy.
Taskin was seen making a few rounds with the ball under the supervision of the management.
“The progress has been good so far. I have been able to attend three bowling sessions so far. I am taking it according to the plan that has been set by the management. Overall, the improvement has been well. I will have another bowling session tomorrow and if everything goes well, I hope to play the first game of the tournament,” said Taskin.
Bangladesh suffered another injury blow, during the warm-up match against India, in another pacer Shoriful Islam.
The left-arm paceman suffered an injury to his left hand during the game at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 1.
The injury resulted in a split in the webbing between his index and middle finger which required six stitches.
The Bangladesh contingent has since not updated on Shoriful’s recovery but it is understood that due to the level of the injury, the fast bowler is set to miss their first two-three games in the tournament.
Taskin said: “Shoriful’s injury is very unfortunate. He had only one ball left in that match [against India]. It is difficult to make a comment on his recovery, it has just been three days. I am hoping he makes a comeback but we cannot say about his return as the injury is major and he received stitches. So, the doctors can speak well on that.”
