Abu Dhabi: Bangladesh's captain, Litton Das, humorously remarked on his support for Sri Lanka, who are pivotal in determining their qualification for the Super 4 after a tense eight-run win over Afghanistan in the ongoing Asia Cup. His counterpart, Rashid Khan, expressed disappointment over the missed chance to chase down a reachable target and stressed the importance of learning from this experience ahead of their crucial match against Sri Lanka.
Group B, often referred to as the group of death, has certainly lived up to its name, with the last two spots still contested by three teams. Bangladesh found themselves in a precarious position after their defeat to Sri Lanka. Afghanistan posed a significant challenge, but Bangladesh managed to secure victory through a determined bowling effort.
Litton experienced a wave of relief after emerging victorious. Saif Hassan (30) and Tanzid Hasan (52) contributed to a solid 63-run opening partnership, allowing Bangladesh to reach 87/1 after 10 overs. However, during the latter part of the innings, Bangladesh struggled to maintain momentum, finishing at 154/5—a competitive score, yet still 15 to 20 runs below what Litton would deem a secure total.
"Winning the match brings a sense of relief, yet we struggled with our batting in the last four or five overs. Our bowling in the middle overs was also not up to par. Although we had sufficient runs on the board, I believe we fell short by about 15 to 20 runs with the bat," Litton remarked during the post-match presentation.
In defending the target, left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed struck early for Bangladesh, dismissing the in-form Sediqullah Atal with the very first ball of the second innings. Ibrahim Zadran followed suit, falling in a similar manner as Bangladesh continued to make progress. Mustafizur Rahman led the bowling attack, taking key wickets at critical moments while the rest of the bowling unit contributed as the match reached a thrilling conclusion.
The momentum shifted back and forth, but Bangladesh, displaying remarkable composure, managed to secure the victory. Now, Bangladesh is looking to Sri Lanka, which can advance to the Super 4 if it wins against Afghanistan in the final group match. Will the Bangla Tigers support Sri Lanka? Litton humorously confessed he is uncertain.
"Our bowlers performed exceptionally well, particularly Nasum Ahmed, who returned after a long absence and demonstrated his talent. Rishad Hossain also claimed a wicket during the middle overs. The bowling was impressive today. The partnership between Saif Hassan and Tanzid Tamim was vital at the beginning. Similarly, Nasum's early wicket made the bowling performance even more remarkable. [Support Sri Lanka?] I’m not sure, we’ll have to wait and see," he concluded.
Rashid pinpointed the moment they lost the match, attributing it to their inability to capitalize in the final three overs, with "irresponsible" shots leading to their defeat. He remarked, "We were competitive until the end. Up until my dismissal, we were in the game, but we just couldn't seal the deal. I believe scoring 30 runs in 15 balls is quite feasible these days, but at that moment, we placed excessive pressure on ourselves and failed to execute our shots effectively."
In spite of their overall batting shortcomings, Rashid chose to focus on the positives stemming from their disciplined bowling performance. With Sri Lanka maintaining an unbeaten streak in the tournament, Rashid conveyed a strong message to his team about learning from their errors and returning to the field with a resilient mindset on Thursday.
"Certainly, the way we responded with our bowling was commendable. To limit them to under 160 runs after they scored 90 in the first 10 overs was a significant achievement. I believe it was a wicket suited for 160-170 runs, but we played some reckless shots when it was unnecessary," he stated.
"This is a critical period, particularly in the Asia Cup, where there are limited matches, and each one is vital for us. The upcoming game against Sri Lanka is significant. We must be thoroughly prepared. We need to learn from our past mistakes and maintain mental strength, which will be a challenge for all of us," he concluded.
Nasum, who claimed two wickets for just 11 runs in his four-over spell, was named Player of the Match. Despite facing the brunt of Bangladesh's opening attack, Nasum relishes every moment and expressed, "I always enjoy bowling with the new ball, as that is what the captain has requested of me. I thrive on that challenge. It was quite sweaty today, making it difficult to grip the ball, but I embrace these challenges."
