Ahead of the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh’s new captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed hopes for an improved performance attributing their lacklustre record to subpar home pitches.
Bangladesh, having participated in every T20 World Cup since its inception is yet to advance to the knockout stage, unlike the other eight nations.
Najmul, who took over as captain at the age of 25 in February, succeeding Shakib Al Hasan, believes that their struggles stem from pitches that don’t favor high-scoring matches commonly seen in T20 cricket.
Najmul emphasized the importance of playing on quality pitches, stating, First of all, we have to play on good wickets.
He acknowledged that while some may view it as an excuse, it’s a reality that Bangladesh plays few matches on such wickets. Bangladeshi pitches are notorious for low-scoring encounters, with only one player in their World Cup squad, top-order batsman Towhid Hridoy, boasting a T20 international strike rate exceeding 130.
Najmul believes that sustained exposure to good pitches over one or two years will lead to improvements in strike rates.
Despite being ranked ninth, Bangladesh has shown signs of progress in T20 cricket, securing series victories at home against formidable opponents like Australia, England, and New Zealand in recent years. However, setbacks like the recent 2-1 defeat to the USA in a warm-up series in Houston serve as reminders of the challenges they face.
Najmul remains optimistic, stating, “We have won a few series and we have won against big teams,” expressing confidence in the team’s current mindset.
Najmul highlighted the importance of replicating their recent performances in the upcoming T20 World Cup, emphasizing the need for proper decision-making and execution of plans to achieve success.
As the tournament approaches, it could mark the final appearance for some of Bangladesh’s key players, including Najmul’s predecessor, Shakib, who remains the top-ranked T20 all-rounder. Shakib, along with Mahmudullah Riyad, is expected to retire soon, but Najmul hopes they will give their best in the World Cup and share their experience with the team.
In their group Bangladesh faces tough competition from South Africa, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Netherlands.
Their opening match against Sri Lanka holds significance due to the simmering rivalry between the two teams stemming from past encounters like the ODI World Cup clash where Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews faced a controversial timed out dismissal.
Despite tensions, Najmul asserts that Bangladesh has moved on and is focused solely on their game, leaving behind any lingering ill-will.
