Mushtaq Ahmed urges Bangladesh batters to ‘Play the Ball, Not the Bowler’

Bangla Press Desk:  “They are playing Rashid, not the ball,” Bangladesh spin coach Mushtaq Ahmed remarked after his side’s crushing defeat to Afghanistan in the second ODI at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, where Afghanistan secured a commanding 81-run victory. Chasing a modest target of 190, Bangladesh suffered a dramatic collapse- bowled out for just 109 in 28.3 overs, their lowest total against Afghanistan in ODIs and the second-lowest by any team in Abu Dhabi.

Rashid Khan was the chief destroyer, spinning webs around the Bangladeshi batters with a stunning five-wicket haul. His consistent line and deceptive variations left the red and green side clueless, as wickets tumbled in quick succession. Reflecting on the loss, Mushtaq Ahmed, in the post-match press conference, pointed out that the batters seemed overwhelmed by Rashid’s reputation rather than focusing on playing each delivery on its merit. He emphasized that international cricket demands mental strength and composure qualities that Bangladesh must sharpen to handle world-class bowlers.

"I think they are playing Rashid, not the ball. He's been very experienced, he's a wicket-taker, he challenges because his line and length is very consistent. So, I think we have to sometimes, you know, play the ball, not the bowler. I think this is the case; we have to improve quickly. International cricket is all about great temperament, and if you have a great temperament, you can play against any bowler. At the same time, as a Bangladeshi batting unit, we should know how to play the ball, not the bowler,” Mushtaq said.

Mushtaq also emphasized the importance of rotating the strike scoring singles and doubles on good balls to relieve pressure and avoid building up dot balls. Drawing on his experience as a spinner, he noted that batters who keep the scoreboard moving with regular singles and doubles make it much harder for bowlers to maintain control.

"As I said to you, sometimes you don't have to play the bowler, you've got to play the ball. And you've got to have a little better technique against spinners in the middle overs—how to get singles on good balls. If you can rotate the strike, I think that will put more pressure on the bowlers than yourself,” the coach concluded.

BP/SP