Bangladesh’s batsmen had a difficult time chasing 125 runs against Sri Lanka, but Najmul Hossain Shanto the captain is not too bothered because his team had a good start in the T20 World Cup.
Litton Das (36) and Towhid Hridoy (40) were coasting at 91 for three, but five wickets tumbled for 21 runs. It was Mahmudullah Riyad who smacked Dasun Shanaka over midwicket for six to give Shanto’s side a two-wicket win.
“I think not many reasons to get worried about. I say this because it was a very tough match. At the end of the day we wanted to win. So, if you see in terms of result, we got two points,” said Shanto while speaking at the post-match press conference in Dallas.
“All our batsmen know that we did not bat well. But everyday all people do not play well. Like Hridoy played an excellent innings; he bowls it there. Riyad finished off the game and Litton gave us a beautiful beginning after long times. Therefore, we are good in some respects.
“So, I hope in whatever case whoever gets set on any day should make sure that he wins the match. All seven batsmen cannot play well so don’t expect that from them.”
Tanzid Hassan and Soumya Sarkar failed as openers but their skipper came through for them.
“As I said before the openers are only part of this game. We have got seven batters batting first up if you notice that is everyone’s responsibility.
“As captain, I want whoever gets set and starts off well to finish off the game. Even today I hope our openers will give us a good start and finish off the game therefore I am positive everybody will do well.”
The young leg spinner Rishad Hossain with his two wickets in two balls turned the match around and the captain was really pleased.
“Rishad is a wicket taking bowler so he always has my support. We all know that it’s not easy to play leg spinners. There can be one or two boundaries, but there is always an opportunity of getting a wicket. So, I tried doing that.
“And for him, I haven’t seen left hand or right hand makes much difference so as a captain I wanted him to take one or two wickets, which he did perfectly.”
Shanto recently lost the series to USA just before T20 World Cup and said that he is more concerned about his boys rather than the social media narrative.
“In fact this cannot be stopped whether they have said if those who are talking on these websites can tell us. However we do not have control over social media. Players are following social media less and it’s none of our business too.
“Therefore, only what we can control is our honesty. How well we are preparing ourselves and trying 100% for making sure that we win every game.
“We think only about these things and about 15-17 players here are trying to give their 120%. They think about winning every day to make the team win.”
