Tigers must change approach in Asia Cup

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan hoped that the Tigers would change their mentality and approach in the forthcoming Asia Cup Twenty20, starting in Dubai on August 27.

‘We are not a strong side when it comes to T20 matches, and to do something about that, we have decided to bring drastic changes in our thought process and mentality,’ Nazmul told reporters in Mirpur on Thursday. 

Bangladesh, who are pitted in Group B of the tournament, will take on Afghanistan in their tournament opener on August 30 before facing Sri Lanka in their second match on September 1. 

Nazmul wants to consider the regional tournament as a training ground for the forthcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in Australia from October 16 to November 13. 

‘We want to start anew from the Asia Cup, and if we don’t do it now, we will face even worse results in the World Cup.’

Bangladesh, who suffered a 1-2 defeat in their last T20 international series against Zimbabwe earlier this month, have won only two out of their last 14 games in this format.  

‘We have done appallingly in the last T20 World Cup. We don’t know if we can get out of the circle of substandard results in T20 games. Since the Asia Cup is the biggest stage after the World Cup, we will try to change our way of playing and bring results from here [Dubai],’ he said.

The Tigers had to play in the group stage at the last T20 World Cup, where they lost their opening game against Scotland.

Even though they managed to qualify for the Super 12s round by defeating Oman and Papua New Guinea, they lost all five of the five games they played in that round. But this time in Australia. Bangladesh will play directly in the Super 12s round.

Nazmul also stated that the team’s batting coach, Jamie Siddons, went to his residence a few days back and showed interest in working with the players about power-hitting. So, for now, the responsibility will be on Siddons.

‘You have to score 180 or 200 if you want to win a T20 match. You might win a match or two scoring around 130, but you can’t expect to win all the matches scoring that,’ said the BCB boss.  

‘We will think about a power-hitting coach after the Asia Cup, as our main focus is the World Cup. You can’t develop immediately after bringing in a coach, so we have decided to just make minor changes in terms of the Asia Cup, as there isn’t much time left before it. A coach can’t come and change the scenario overnight.’

The BCB president also talked about having a conversation with the team captain, Shakib Al Hasan, and said that the captain was confident of getting a good result in the Asia Cup. 

‘It’s important to have the belief that you can win. I have seen it in the players, and I am happy. Whatever the end result is, they will try to play well,’ added the BCB boss.