PHOTO: FIROZ AHMED
Bangladesh suffered a shock to the system following recent series wins and also dismantling Afghanistan in the lone Test just last month, after their 17-run loss per DLS in the first ODI against Afghanistan at Chattogram’s Zahur Ahmed Chowhdury Stadium yesterday.
Towhid Hridoy played a matured knock, hitting a 69-ball 51 while losing partners at the middle-order and the Tigers eventually managed 169 for 9 in 43 overs in a rain-curtailed game. The Tigers’ batters had a below-par day with most in the top-order getting out to casual shots but Hridoy believed that they can rectify their errors.
Shakib Al Hasan and Hridoy contributed 37 for the fourth wicket but once the former departed to a loose shot, no big partnerships developed. Hridoy felt conditions were moderately good but the team did not bat well.
“No the conditions didn’t feel like that (tough), but the problem we faced was that wicket was a bit low and had variable bounce. If we could bat a bit better, the game scenario would have changed. Overall, we didn’t bat well,” he said.
Bangladesh were hoping for batters coming in after Shakib to stick it out and seize back control much in the same way that Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Afif Hossain had done with a 174-run partnership during the last home series against Afghanistan at Chattogram. Hridoy said not much has been discussed as everyone in the dressing room has experience of getting out of bad situations.
“We have faced such scenarios before but I feel that day someone played well. In the last series Miraz bhai and Afif played well and our belief was that a good partnership would develop from that position. It didn’t happen but hopefully next time the situation arrives, something good will happen,” he said.
“Everyone here is matured enough and played in the national team for a long time. There’s nothing to tell them since everyone is pretty experienced. They will get out of these kinds of challenges on an individual basis. The talk in the dressing room is regarding that everyone is backed by the team,” he added.
Afghan pacers were not consistent with line and length while the spinners did not produce many special deliveries. Wickets were thrown away and Hridoy felt they have to minimise silly errros.
“We will try to reduce the silly mistakes we made, and feel the series win is still possible if we can give our best. Many of us couldn’t give our best but if two or three of us can contribute we will be able to comeback,” he concluded.
