Tigers keep spirits high as crucial Afghan test approaches

Bangla Press Desk:  For any traveling Bangladeshi journalist, the team hotel is a go-to spot during a tournament or a bilateral series involving the Tigers, and it was no different in Abu Dhabi. When there is no training activity, like on Sunday, journalists often slip into the team hotel to catch a glimpse of their national stars. In the digital media era, every move made by a cricketer becomes content that can be uploaded in different formats across various social media platforms.

The Bangladeshi players seemed well aware of this, as one cricketer requested a journalist not to upload a video of him receiving food from outside—a practice that national cricketers have followed for years.

Still, not everyone was content with a quiet lunch in their hotel rooms delivered by couriers. Some players chose instead to step out, enjoy their meals, and explore popular local malls. Unlike in the past, Bangladeshi cricketers seemed to have moved on from the idea that dwelling on their loss to Sri Lanka would change anything, as it can hardly bring back what’s gone. One player even smiled and asked, “Do you want us not to smile just because we lost?” The reaction was refreshing, especially considering how difficult it would be for Bangladesh to make forward-looking plans while still carrying the disappointment of defeat to the Lankans. “We have beaten Afghanistan before and we can do that again. Also, the way Sri Lanka played against us, if they can carry on with the same momentum it will be difficult for Afghanistan to earn a win against them,” he said. If Sri Lanka win against Hong Kong and Afghanistan, along with Bangladesh’s victory over the Afghans, will surely help the Tigers secure a place beyond the group stage. Minhajul Abedin, former Bangladesh skipper and chief selector, and currently in Abu Dhabi as a member of the Asia Cup technical committee, believes that including four seam bowlers in the playing XI could be the way forward. “If you look at the wicket, you’ll see the ball was skidding, and I feel going with four pacers would be helpful,” Minhajul told the Daily Sun.

“Look at Sri Lanka—they played with four pacers. We can consider it as an option because it could work well given the conditions,” he added. While speaking with reporters outside the hotel, Minhajul indicated that he supports Saif Hasan as a good option, considering that he can both bat and bowl. “To succeed in T20s, you need quality all-rounders. Without them, it’s difficult to manage. Those who are playing must think smart and play good cricket. With the right approach, something positive is possible against Afghanistan,” said Minhajul. “We have always tended to depend on our batters in this format, but I think it’s time to move away from that mindset. For T20 cricket, five bowlers are not enough—you need an extra option. Not all bowlers will perform the same on a given day; someone may have an off day. For such situations, you need backup options in bowling,” he added.  This article was originally published on Daily Sun. [Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.] BP/SP