‘You have to take chances by playing risky shots’

Bangladesh batsmen got out playing indecisive but risky shots to Afghanistan bowlers in both T20Is of their ongoing three-match series in Dehradun. Before Rashid Khan was introduced to the attack in the 11th over, Tigers had reached 81 for three with Tamim Iqbal well set at the crease. But when it came to taking calculated risks, Tigers were found lacking.

Mushfiqur Rahim had danced down the track premeditatively to be stumped off the bowling of Mohammad Nabi. The slump started once Mahmudullah Riyad too stepped out, only to miss a slower delivery from Karim Janat that crashed into his stumps. The run-scoring was slow in the next few overs and then in one fatal Rashid Khan over, the Tigers lost three wickets including those of Tamim and skipper Shakib Al Hasan.

All-rounder Ariful Haque, who is yet to feature in a game in this series, felt that Rashid Khan was the difference maker.

"One man made the difference between Bangladesh and Afghanistan and he is Rashid Khan. Their spin attack is very good. We have a decent batting lineup but that one person, Rashid Khan, made the difference in both games," Ariful said at the team hotel on Wednesday, a day before they are scheduled to take on Afghanistan in the final match on Thursday to salvage some pride from a series that they have already lost.

When asked about how some of the senior players in the side fell to rash shots, Ariful claimed that T20 cricket is a game of risks and Bangladesh wanted to score quick runs before Rashid came on to bowl.

"Actually, in T20Is you have to take chances and that means playing risky shots. So, the seniors wanted to make runs quickly. If the team had won, there would not be so much talk of playing rash shots.

 "While there weren't too many instructions, we were told not to play too many risky shots," he said when asked whether there were any specific instructions from the team management during or before the game.