Shakib Al Hasan, the T20 captain of Bangladesh,
urged his side to face off Afghanistan in two-match T20 series without
thinking much about the opponent’s strength and Rashid Khan, a legspinner who
is a nightmare for almost every batter in the world in the shortest format of
the cricket.
According to Shakib, when Bangladesh plays as a team, without much focusing
on the opponent, condition of individual player, their chance to win the game
increases a lot.
“I think we play well as a team when we don’t think much about the other
team. When we keep an open mind and think about how we can improve our game,
and think how we can improve 10 or 20 percent from our position, I think
that’s when the team performs better,” Shakib said here today as his side
gears up for the two-match T20 series against Afghanistan.
“We tend to get a little nervous or unable to perform well when we think too
much about the conditions and too much about the opponent or any particular
player. I think the less we can do about that, the better for us.”
He said it’s the high time to build the culture of total team performance as
they are trying to build a strong team, eying the big tournaments like World
Cup or T20 World Cup.
“Our team doesn’t rely on any particular batter or bowler. We want to perform
as team and want to win the game as a team. We will try to keep the same
pace,” Shakib said.
The Afghans came to the T20 series on the back of their first ever ODI series
victory over Bangladesh.
But Bangladesh are no more a vulnerable T20 team as Afghanistan used to face
in the past. Since 2022 T20 World Cup, Bangladesh won five out of six
matches, including a 3-0 whitewash against World Champions England.
Shakib said Afghanistan will be a tough nut to crack but they are confident,
specially after their performance against England and Ireland in the last two
series.
“We have played well in the last two series at home. This is another new
challenge for us. Afghanistan are definitely a good team. The way we are
playing cricket and the way we are improving, we want to perform like that in
every match,” Shakib remarked.
As has been the case, Bangladesh looked clueless against Rashid Khan’s leg-
spin as in ODI series although pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi was the wrecker-in-
chief. Rashid is more dangerous in T20 format and every batter in the world
may get it tough to pick Rashid’s spin in any condition.
Shakib stayed unfazed, despite knowing the challenge to face Rashid Khan in
the T20 format. According to him, the Bangladesh players have taken necessary
preparation to how they would deal with one individual.
“We have not talked or thought about any one cricketer. I am sure that
players will work out personally what kind of situation they will face from
their place, whether they are batting or bowling,” Shakib pointed out.
“It’s not really a matter of telling anyone and it’s also not a matter of
doing. In whatever situation comes, a player’s responsibility is how he can
perform well for the team. As I said, momentum is very important in T20. How
we start the game, I think, can determine the outcome or fate of the match a
lot. Whether batting or bowling, it’s important to get off to a good start.”
Even he was not worried about the condition, saying that Bangladesh now have
the weapons to play in any condition.
“We are not really worried about the conditions. The biggest reason for this
is that the conditions are equal for both teams. Also, I don’t think we’re a
team that needs to take advantage of our conditions. I at least believe that
our team has the potential to adapt to any conditions and play competitive
cricket against any team. That’s what I would expect from my team that we go
into the field with that mindset and be open-minded and ready to do whatever
the team needs.”
“Nobody has said much about the wicket. I and the coach may have had a
little talk, apart from that. I don’t know if one or two cricketers have gone
near the wicket or not. As I said, we are not worried about the condition. Of
course, Afghanistan are a good team, a big challenge for us. But if we think
about the World Cup and the Asia Cup, it’s a good opportunity to face them
again, to know a little more about them and what they can do.” (BSS)
