We have a long way to go: Shakib
How well did Bangladesh fare in the Champions Trophy?
In terms of results it was the best performance for the Tigers in an ICC flagship event. They made it into the semifinals from a group they started as rank outsiders. Although rain played a big part in their progress to the last four, Bangladesh's victory against New Zealand in their last group game was one of the most spectacular come-from-behind stories in one-day cricket history.
They scored more than 300 runs in the tournament opener against hosts England. Opener Tamim Iqbal was in the best of form in the tournament. The left-hander hit a magnificent 128 against England and then followed it up with a fabulous 95 against the Aussies in the rain-abandoned second game. He scored a duck against New Zealand but returned to his brilliant self against India in the semifinal with 70. Mushfiqur Rahim struck two superb half-centuries.
Shakib's sumptuous 114 and Mahmudullah's masterly 102 in that amazing 224-run fifth-wicket stand against New Zealand was Bangladesh's highest partnership for any wicket in ODI cricket. The bowling unit also performed well in that particular game, where they restricted the Black Caps to 265. The semifinal might have turned out to be a mismatch, but it could have been different had Tamim and Mushfiqur built on their century stand. Still, what Bangladesh have done in the tournament suggests that they are on the right track as a developing team.
But if you ask premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, he will tell you that they did not perform that well.
“I don't think we have done well as a team. We were outplayed in the first game and also in this [semifinal] match. We have won against New Zealand and that was a good thing. We have also been outplayed in the game [abandoned] against Australia,” Shakib told reporters after Thursday's crushing semifinal defeat against India.
It was an honest admission from a player who wants his team to be as good as the big teams in the world. In that context Bangladesh still lack that mental maturity needed to transform from a lightweight to a heavyweight.
He was correct to point out that Bangladesh have won only one game in the tournament. They badly lost against England; they were only four overs away from certain defeat before rain saved them against Australia.
“We have come a long way. But at the same time we still have a long way to go if we are to compete in big tournaments against big teams. We will have to improve in a lot of areas,” Shakib observed.
He was also specific while detailing the areas where Bangladesh still lag behind in big-match situations.
“If you look at the big teams, even if they are defending 270-80, they restrict the opposition on a flat wicket. But we can't do that; we need assistance from the wicket. At the same time it is also not possible for us to out-bat an opponent. It was also the case today when we should have scored 330 and ended up 70-80 runs short,” said the all-rounder.
“The big teams do not commit these kinds of mistakes. They don't give you any chance once they get settled. When we do well we do it collectively but there are areas we still either have not learnt or can't do,” the Tigers' vice-captain observed.
Bangladesh came unstuck in the semifinal two years after the World Cup quarterfinal against the same opposition. According to Shakib, it's more of a mental barrier than skill or technique that they need to overcome. He also said that he was not sure if they had the belief that they could cross the semifinal hurdle.
Shakib also said that it was not the right time to think about future plans, immediately after a demoralising defeat.
“After a game, especially after a defeat, if I want to say something about how we should plan for 2019 all the negative thoughts will come to my mind. We should take a break and then sit together to decide the future course of action,” concluded the champion all-rounder.
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