
Bangladesh captain Liton Das expressed disappointment over the team's inability to adhere to fundamental principles after suffering a 57-run defeat in the second match of the three-match T20I series against Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday.
Pakistan posted 201-6, repeating a similar total from their opening T20I win two days earlier.Ìý
Bangladesh, despite a strong start, suffered a dramatic batting collapse and were restricted to 144-9 in 19 overs, eventually losing the series with one match remaining. The defeat marks Bangladesh’s fourth loss in their last five T20Is.
Ìý‘We aren't following the basics at the moment,’ Liton lamented the repeated failure following the team’s loss.
‘Whoever bats well, they need to continue till the 13th-14th over. There were back-to-back wickets.’
The Tigers began their chase positively, but the innings faltered, followed by quick dismissals, a problem that has plagued Bangladesh in the shortest format.Ìý
After a brisk start by opener Tanzid Hasan (33), Bangladesh lost seven wickets for just 33 runs, falling from 44 runs without loss to a precarious 77-7 in 10 overs.
Top-order batter Towhid Hridoy, one of the more promising names in the squad, fell at a crucial stage, but Liton refrained from pointing fingers.
‘Not really [frustrated at Hridoy]. But in cricket you have to fulfil the basics. If you see back-to-back wickets, you don't take runs, so I won't blame that, but we have to focus on this,’ said Liton.
Bangladesh captain also said an early injury to left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam disrupted their plans when he had to walk off with a groin injury just two overs into the match.Ìý
‘I think when Shoriful got injured, that time momentum fully shifted. We knew we lacked in bowling; still, we came back well,’ he said.
With one match left in the series, scheduled for today at 9:00pm Bangladesh Standard Time, Liton urged his team-mates to regroup mentally before their final game.
‘We have one more chance. At the moment we have to sit and talk and see how we can come back strongly. It’s all about mindset,’ he said.
The series defeat follows Bangladesh’s 2-1 loss to the United Arab Emirates earlier in the month, with Liton newly appointed as T20 captain.
Tanzim Sakib, who registered his maiden T20I fifty (50 off 31) in last night's game, remained hopeful for his side to up and asked the batters to play with more responsibility.
‘I think they might just be out of touch, but I have a lot of faith in my team-mates. I believe that they can make a comeback in the next game,’ said Tanzim.
‘If our batters could bat more responsibly, then it is possible to chase 200-plus targets on this wicket. We need to focus on building partnerships because we are losing matches by losing back-to-back wickets.’
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