Bangladesh national cricket team’s cowardly defeat to minnows Afghanistan in the ‘Super Eight’ of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup has unfurled sheer shock as well as anger among the cricket lovers of the country including former captains, cricketers and common people.
The social media have been flooded with angry criticism, shock and surprise by the cricket fans of the country.
Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafee bin Mortaza, MP, who was also very much annoyed with the batters disgraceful performances, has expressed shock and disbelief on his verified Facebook page. “Bangladesh should have played to win the match….. If we would have been all out for only 50 runs playing aggressive cricket, it could be tolerated. People could take it easy. But it is a shame that Bangladesh suffered a defeat to minnows Afghanistan displaying performance below standard. Afghanistan created history and we are out from the race,” Mashrafee wrote.
Former pace bowler Rubel Hossain also expressed dismay in his Facebook page writing: “Now is the time... I think the cricket board should think about Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe. There is nothing more to say.”
It was very much surprising and shcking not to win against Afghanistan despite bowling them out for 115 runs. Bangladesh batters disappointed the audiences with their below standard performances throughout the tournament.
It was supposed to be Bangladesh's night when the bowlers rallied with their disciplined attacks to book the Afghans batters on 115 runs.
Bangladesh, who were also seeking to reach their first World Cup semi-final, needed to win by a large margin to qualify on net run-rate (NRR). They came without warning and were decided by a choice, a reflex or a moment of sheer brilliance but turned on calmness of mind as much as the execution of skill, and in must-win matches, as it looked they arrived with the burden of intense expectation and pressure.
It turned into a familiar scenario that Bangladesh lose their temper at key moments, as they could not get rid of the snag in the match against Afghanistan. The complication remains around Bangladesh's throat until it ultimately suffocates them.
On the day, match against Afghanistan, apart from Litton Das, who carried through the bat, none could keep their cool to handle the situation, when the opener (Litton Das) remained unbeaten with 54 off 49 balls, among rest of the 10 batters, eight were out for single digit each and four batters scored ducks.
Afghanistan scrapped their way through to the semi-finals defeating Australia and Bangladesh. But Bangladesh have not been convincing, they haven't produced anything approaching a complete performance, and could probe their determination in the Super Eight.
Going to chase such a paltry target (115), normally it just takes one or two overs that can change the game, and make it easier Bangladesh kept stumbling, losing wickets quick successions and entering the 1.2 over needing eight runs for victory but failed to score, as suffered eight runs defeat (DLS method), as they sported the dreaded tag.
