In a recent T20 World Cup Super 8 match against India in Antigua, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan openly disagreed with the team’s decision to bowl first. This decision, made by the team management, has raised questions about the unity and decision-making process within the Bangladesh cricket team.
Shakib Al Hasan voices concerns
After Bangladesh’s 50-run loss to India, Shakib expressed his disagreement with the choice to field first. “Personally, if you ask me, in the Caribbean, batting first has been the trend for most teams and they have been very successful. So, if you look at the stats, I think, yeah, ideally you would have batted first, but maybe the captain and coach thought otherwise,” Shakib said.
He pointed out that, historically, teams batting first have had better results in the region, questioning the captain and coach’s decision.
Lack of consultation with Shakib Al Hasan
When asked if he was consulted about the decision, Shakib Al Hasan replied, “No, I don’t have any part or role in this.” He emphasised that such decisions should be inclusive, especially considering his seniority and experience in the team.
Shakib remarked, “When there is a leader, a captain, it’s his decision. If we did well, the credit would go to the captain. If we did bad, we question the decision of the coach and captain. It’s normal.”
Questioning bowling strategy
Shakib Al Hasan also seemed to disagree with the strategy to open the bowling with spinners, including himself and Mahedi Hasan. “It’s the coach and captain’s decision. They make the decision on who to bowl and when to bowl. So, it’s hard for me to explain,” he said.
Shakib speculated that the decision was based on the assumption that the pitch would assist spin, though this did not prove to be the case.
Disappointment in Team performance
Reflecting on the team’s overall performance, Shakib expressed disappointment, particularly in their matches against strong teams like Australia and India. “If you are talking about results, I would say result-wise we are in a decent position. But the way we played against Australia and India is disappointing,” he noted.
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Challenges with High Scoring games
Shakib pointed out that the team’s batting unit struggles with high-scoring games. “Throughout this World Cup, as a batting unit I don’t think we did justice to ourselves. We have the potential to score big runs,” he said. He highlighted the team’s inability to adapt to chasing higher totals, which has been a recurring issue.
Need for Improvement in Bangladesh Team
Shakib Al Hasan stressed the need for the team to improve their understanding and approach to high-scoring games. “We understand the game around 130, 140, 150 runs but we need to understand how to play the game of 170 or 180 runs,” he explained.
He urged the team to develop strategies for handling flat wickets where higher scores are required.
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What’s next for Bangladesh cricket team?
Shakib’s candid comments reveal underlying issues within the Bangladesh cricket team’s decision-making process and their performance in high-pressure matches. As the team looks ahead, addressing these internal disagreements and improving their approach to high-scoring games will be crucial for their success on the international stage.
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