'Playing 10-15 matches on these pitches can destroy a batsman's career'

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has thrown words of extreme caution for Bangladesh batsmen ahead of next month's T20 World Cup during an event in Dhaka yesterday. 

While speaking with reporters during the event of a financial insitution at the Westin Hotel in Dhaka, the ace all-rounder spoke about the team's preparation for the World Cup, raising real concern about the lack of form from the batsmen and the role of the sub-standard wickets prepared in Mirpur in exacerbating the situation.

Bangladesh won the latest T20I series against New Zealand 3-2 following a 4-1 series win against Australia, but the lack of runs from some of the batting stalwarts and the overall low-scoring affairs has raised a lot of questions ahead of the T20 World Cup, where Bangladesh will start their campaign on October 17.

"Those who played in these last 9-10 matches, are almost all in off-form. That is how the wickets are and no-one did that well. It's better not to read too much into these performances. If any batsman plays 10-15 matches on these wickets, his career will be destroyed," the all-rounder said before putting a positive spin of things by saying,  "Let us not read too much into these. Those who are in the team have the capability to win for the country. Everyone is doing his best from his own position."

Shakib was one of four batters to score more than 100 runs in the two series, averaging 17.66 with a 97.54 strike-rate batting in the top-order in nine games. The collective batting average in both series were 14.73 and 16.48 respectively.

The team's opener Liton Das scored 65 runs in the five matches against New Zealand after missing out on the series against Australia. Another opening batsman, Soumya Sarkar, scored 4 runs in the last match against the Kiwis after amassing 32 runs in the five matches against Australia. 

Mushfiqur Rahim, another stalwart of the team, managed 39 runs in five matches against the Kiwis including two ducks and two unbeaten knocks.

Another one bites the dust. File Photo: Star

Skipper Mahmudullah (211 in 10 innings including three unbeaten knocks), Naim Sheikh (196 in last 10 innings) and Afif Hossain (167 in nine innings including three unbeaten knocks) showed some form with the bat in these two series. 

However, Shakib feels that good pitches in Oman and UAE will help the struggling batsmen find form.

"Our team will be in Oman at least 15-16 days before the World Cup, which is enough time for acclimatising with conditions and wickets. I don't think pitches and conditions here will have any impact over there. We have built a winning mentality, which will help us be confident in the World Cup," Shakib said.

Shakib, who along with Mustafizur Rahman, will be leaving for UAE for the second phase of the IPL to be played from September 19, feels that the team will be benefited by their experience there. 

"I am hopeful that the IPL will help everyone," Shakib said. "We will be spending time in those conditions, play matches too. Mustafiz and I can share the experience with the rest of the team. We will understand the other players' mindset, what they are thinking about the World Cup, and then report it back to our players."