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Bangladesh national team captain Liton Das defended the strategy of playing on tough wickets after their 74-run defeat to Pakistan in the third and final T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Thursday. 

The Liton-led team secured the series 2-1, for the first time against Pakistan, by winning the first two matches. Both matches were played on surfaces that were slow and sluggish, where most batters struggled.

After being bowled out for 110 and 125 in the first two matches, the table turned for Pakistan as they posted 178 in the third game. 

Bangladesh were all out for 104 runs in 16.4 overs, as they seemed to be clueless on a wicket where balls were coming nicely to bats. 

Liton praised the bowlers’ efforts but he remarked that they should have chased down the total. 

‘This was a fantastic wicket, far better than the two wickets where we played the first two matches,’ Liton said. ‘It was a batting-friendly wicket. Our bowling unit did really well. As a captain, I would say that 180 was chasable. But our batting unit couldn’t play the calculative game.’ 

However, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha didn’t think that the wicket was any better; rather, he thought that their executions were. 

‘I don’t think it was a different pitch [than the first two]; we [just] executed our plans really well. We put their bowlers under pressure straight away, and we built partnerships; these things were missing in the first two games. But it was a similar kind of wicket.’

The Pakistani captain also echoed his head coach, Mike Hesson’s, thoughts that these wickets were not ideal for the preparation for the forthcoming tournaments. 

‘I haven’t said anything about the pitch. I am just saying that the pitches are not ideal for the Asia Cup and the World Cup. I don’t think we are going to get these types of pitches,’ said Salman. 

‘We, as international players, have to adapt to whatever the conditions we are playing in and do well. If they ask me about the preparation for the Asia Cup and the World Cup, then I will say that is what I am saying. Because we won’t get these kinds of wickets going forward,’ he added. 

Liton, though, doesn’t think that way. 

‘We played on a similar wicket in St. Vincent in the World Cup a few days back, where 130 or 140 runs were more than enough. Sometimes in cricket there will be some days like these. We, as players, have to adapt’, said Liton. 

‘We did that in the first two matches where they couldn’t. Today, we failed while they played well,’ he added.  

Liton also said that the batters’ performances on good wickets are not something they should worry about. 

 ‘We just didn’t play well. In our last four matches, someone from the top order scored runs. Apart from the last match, they got runs. You shouldn’t rely on anyone; if you get the opportunity, you should do well. The wicket was so good today, but our batting unit failed.’  

Liton, who has now won three series out of the five as a captain, also said that a full-strength team helped to get the results. 

‘We didn’t get Taskin or Mustafiz in the series against Pakistan and the UAE. We all know how capable Mustafiz is, how destructive he can be. We also didn’t play well [against Pakistan and UAE]. We were able to play with the full setup in the series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan,’ said Liton. 

‘We have done well, and we will gain confidence. But in the last few days, I have felt that we should do better in our death bowling. Of course there’s batting also. But in death, everyone should improve except Mustafiz,’ he added.