Aim: finish with a flourish

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim (L), Mominul Haque (C) and Nasir Hossain enjoy a game of soccer at the Pallekele International Stadium yesterday, ahead of their lone T20 International against hosts Sri Lanka today. Photo: AFP

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim expressed his desire to return home with yet another victory in Sri Lanka. To sign off the tour with high note his team possesses some advantages, but they will have to rewrite the history books when they take on Sri Lanka in the lone T20 international at the Pallekele International Stadium today; the last encounter in a praiseworthy trip for the Tigers.
Mushfiqur's men have already proved that they are capable of capitalizing on any opportunity and they are on the brink of another chance ahead of the last match in the series, despite it effectively being a battle between the number one and nine teams in the rankings.
The Bangladesh captain believed that they have a big chance to fulfill their desire of finishing the tour with a win and he said, while talking to press in the pre-match briefing, that they want to take this opportunity.
“The momentum is with us after victory in the last one-day match. The good performance in the Test and one-day series gives us the confidence. We got some T20-like match practice in the third one-dayer and we are consistently doing well, so we want to take the opportunity with both hands and push the number one team for a win.”
He was diplomatic when asked about the current Sri Lanka side for the T20 but the truth is that a depleted Sri Lanka is the biggest advantage for the touring side to turn the tide. All those positives factors keep Bangladesh in an advantageous position, so one can say the touring side are perhaps favourites in the match. Mushfiqur did not deny this when asked: “May be (we are favourites).” But he was quick to add that nobody can really be called favourites in T20 competition. Yet, he was delighted with the fact that two Sri Lankan stalwarts Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan would not be playing the match. “Sanga and Dilshan gave us a tough time throughout the series,” reminded Mushfiqur.
Mushfiqur also admitted that they are not good in T20 cricket, with only eight wins in 27 games. This too is a statistic boosted by wins against Ireland and the Netherlands last year.

“We lack in skills and mentality in Twenty20s. But we are changing in the last two years in terms of mental and physical strength and skills. Our team is doing well without big performers, which is a good sign and we also discussed as we started well but could not finish properly,” confessed Mushfiqur. Bangladesh lost their last T20i against West Indies at Mirpur by 18 runs after winning the one-day series 3-2.
Bangladesh have so far played only one T20 International against Sri Lanka in the 2007 World Cup in South Africa which they lost by 64 runs. Interestingly pacer Lasith Malinga is only player who has survived from that team and definitely he will be the main threat for the Bangladesh batsmen this time around as well.
Mushfiqur, who was one of the members along with Mohammad Ashraful, Mahmudullah Riyad and Abdur Razzak to have played in that game, was however more concerned with the lack of variety in his own bowling.
“We have lacking in our pace bowling and there is a concern with the bowling in Powerplays and death overs. Think about Malinga who has three or four variations he uses it in 24 balls, it is not easy to score against him. Our bowlers are developing new skills but we have to innovative in our bowling."
Mushfiqur also hoped that he would get a start from Ashraful.
“We don't have many talents like Ashraful. We missed his experience but now he is in good touch. He will open the innings,” confirmed Mushfiqur. Shamsur Rahman has every chance to make his international debut today and open the innings with ace batsman Ashraful.
No one knows better than Bangladesh how funny the T20 ranking system can be, after a see-saw scenario during the Europe tour last year. It doesn't matter whether a win in today's match takes them anywhere or not but the key for  Mushfiqur Rahim's men is indeed to provide a good finishing touch.