Ash in no mood to give in
DUMPED AND DUMBFOUNDED: The dejected Bangladesh cricketers pose for photographs on their arrival at the Zia International Airport in the early hours on Monday.Photo: STAR
Mohammad Ashraful said that the time has not come yet for him to relinquish the captaincy despite his side's appalling performance in the one-day series against Australia in Darwin.
The Bangladesh cricket team returned home early Monday night after a crushing 3-0 defeat to the world's number one team. Vice-captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, coach Jamie Siddons and physio Darryn Lifson didn't accompany the team.
"It's not actually the captaincy rather the main concern is my batting. I don't think the additional job has put any pressure on my batting. There are however every reason to raise questions about my place in the team, but personally I still don't think the time has come for me to take a break right now," said the under pressure Bangladesh skipper.
"I am working really hard to be consistent with my batting and I believe the results will come soon. I am looking forward to the next home series against New Zealand. Everything however will depend on whether I am selected in the team or not," said a confident Ashraful with a smile.
The 24-year-old batsman however has decided to go abroad for a break which he believes would be helpful for him.
"I will fly to England on September 10 and I think it would be helpful for me. I am really tired of answering the same old questions over and over again," said Ashraful.
He however was not ready to say anything about his coach's comments on the captaincy.
"There are a lot of talking about captaincy but everybody should understand that we are struggling as a team. Yes, my performance added more woes to the team's miserable showings, but if my removal solves the problem then I am ready to accept it. What I believe is that I have to keep my place in the team as a batsman first," a frustrated Ashraful quipped.
"We actually have psychological problem. Look at Michael Hussey, Australia's one of the best batsmen, who was as cautious as he could be in his batting during the series but we played senseless shots every time. We hardly had any individual game plan," he admitted.
"We can't offer any excuse for the way we wasted the opportunity in the last match," he said. The Tigers restricted the hosts to 198 for five, only to be let down by their batsmen, who were shot out for 125 in 29.5 overs.
Like the captain, new Bangladesh coach Siddons is also all set to face tough questions this time by the country's cricket authorities when he returns to his job after a ten-day break back in Australia.
On the other hand pace spearhead Mashrafe will return home tomorrow. The right-arm paceman didn't accompany the team as he stayed back for check-up of his knees in Melbourne with Dr. David Young, who had successfully operated on Mashrafe's knees five years back.
"What we learnt is that he (Mashrafe) is okay now," informed Ashraful.
The Tigers' training camp for the upcoming home series against the Black Caps is expected to start from September 22.
New Zealand arrive here in first week of October to play three one-day internationals and two Tests in Dhaka and Chittagong.
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