Bangladesh surrender during their do-or-die game against Afghanistan

SPORTS DESK:

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president NazmulHasanPapon believed that the national team did not follow the right approach against Afghanistan in their Super Eight match of the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

“I think we should have tried till the 12 over but what I have seen is that we defended when we were expected to hit while we hit when we were expected to defend and so what can I say,” Nazmul told reporters following the meeting of the board of directors at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday.

BCB chief decided to sit with his colleagues to discuss regarding the performance of national team during the T20 World Cup and insisted they (BCB) had a mixed feeling considering they were happy to reach the Super Eight round, but at the same time they are quite surprised to see Bangladesh surrender during their do-or-die game against Afghanistan.

Bangladesh could have reached the semifinals for the first time in their T20 history if they could score 115 runs in 12.1 overs against Afghanistan as it would have helped them better their run rate from their opponents as well as Australia to advance in the last four but according to skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, the side did not take the chance after losing three early wickets.

“We are happy that we have reached the Super Eight, but it is not acceptable that they did not try after losing three wickets (against Afghanistan),” said Nazmul.

“I heard that the captain said that after three wickets went down, we didn’t try. I think that’s not acceptable. But when I saw the game, I didn’t feel like that. When TowhidHridoy was batting or later when MahmudullahRiyad or Rishad was batting, they got out trying to hit six and if MahmudullahRiyad got the opportunity, he would hit. We needed to try until the 12th over,” he said.

“I have to find out the reason (why they did not try) and could have answered you more appropriately if I had received the report of the head coach and manager and talked with the skipper but I am yet to receive the letter as well as talk with the captain,” he added.

The BCB boss backed his leader Najmul as he came under scrutiny for his performance in the World Cup while added that though some of the youth impressed him, he was disappointed with the overall performance of the seniors.

“I think we appointed Najmul as captain on the basis of his performance because he did not drop from the sky but now if he cannot play what can I say,” said the BCB chief.

“I was feeling that the youngsters would struggle and the seniors would do well but see the juniors played well but that was not the case with seniors,” he added.

When asked, what their plan is regarding senior’s campaigners of the national cricket team as far as their long-term plan is concerned as Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah are the near end of their career

“We have full confidence in them (seniors) but there will be a time when they end their journey and I want that both parties should sit together and make sure that it ends well they are considering they have given so much to Bangladesh cricket,” he concluded.