Bangladesh commenced their series against India in the first T20I match on Sunday (October 6) where they only went on to butcher the scoring within 20 overs, amassing only 127 runs losing all wickets. The best performance of the innings came from all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz who scored 35 not out; captain Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 27 runs off 25 balls. Chasing the target of 128 runs set by Suryakumar Yadav’s team, the Indian side achieved the fixed runs in 11.5 overs by losing only three wickets.
Shanto makes a startling claim about Bangladeshi batsmen’s capabilities stating it is impossible to score 180 runs in a T20 match during their recent tour of India that followed the disgraceful defeat of Bangladesh in a series of T20 matches.
Speaking after his team suffered a 7-wicket loss in the first T20I affray at New Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, which was held in Gwalior, Shanto replied, “We can, but there is more we can do with our skills. We have been paying for this style for the last ten years. Once in a while we get it right. Changes have to be made, maybe in the locations where we train when we go back to our country. Here, the pitches are more or less 140-150 type. Our batsmen don’t know the art of scoring 180. I cannot put the blame on the pitches alone, but there is a factor of capability and attitude.”
The 26-year-old southpaw reasoned that there is a problem if runs are not accumulated in the first six-over stage, and he looks to his players to go out and put some runs on the board in the first six overs.
“Powerplay is certainly a concern. The strategy that we discussed about, (before the match started) can be implemented if we get the batting right at the beginning of the innings. We have to hold on to our wickets during the first six overs, while trying to score runs within those. Otherwise, it becomes too difficult for those who are next in the order. We haven’t performed well during the powerplay. Those who are batting in the power play should take more burden.”
As for Shanto he believes that Bangladesh is a superior side than the one that took on India in the first T20I and considers the series opener a failure of his team’s batting.
“I wouldn’t go on record and say that we lost the game badly. We are a better side than this. We haven’t performed well in this format for quite a while, however, I can’t accept that we are that poor of a team. I have no comments about any particular player. I think the batting unit has not performed well today. There will be ‘aggression’ in the manner we will be scoring runs but at times, we have to pick the right balls to hit. We will consider that, but we will not be hasty in shifting the way we approach,” he said.
The second T20I between the two sides is set to be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Dehli on Wednesday (October 9).
