“We thought that Miraz was a greater possibility [as an opener] towards Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. He has at all times dealt with thriller spinners like Mujeeb and Theekshana nicely. That was the explanation [why he opened]. It was a well-thought out determination. The openers added 50 runs [against Sri Lanka], however we would have liked an 80 or 90 opening stand. Then it could have been a distinct form of recreation.
“At this second, I really feel that he has a task to play within the high order. He’s a stable batsman with a very good approach. In opposition to specific groups he can do very well. It was not a fluke that he scored the hundred; it could actually’t be. A tailender cannot rating 100 towards among the finest spin assaults on this planet. I feel he has a task to play [with the bat], but when he bats at No. 7, it offers us extra depth. The youthful guys can get uncovered in a event like this.”
Bangladesh’s lengthy tail is turning into a headache this 12 months, particularly after they began to choose bowling cowl to an extended batting line-up. Historically, Bangladesh have gone the latter, however underneath each Tamim Iqbal and Shakib, they’ve opted for, within the phrases of Shakib, the “aggressive” possibility. Nevertheless, Shakib mentioned that having an extended tail hasn’t curbed his center order’s inclination in direction of enjoying their photographs.
“The dressing room does not really feel reluctant to play our photographs because of the lengthy tail. We nonetheless need to be constructive.” he mentioned. “We nonetheless need to play the suitable photographs on the proper time. We need to imagine in our high seven, who ought to win you 90% of the matches with the bat. If we put one other batter, it is going to be [based on] horses for programs. Somebody like Nasum Ahmed gave 31 runs in ten overs [against Sri Lanka]. If we did not play him, we’d have most likely given away 30 extra runs, which the No. 8 batter would then have to attain.
“There’s loads of ifs and buts after the sport. However earlier than the sport, the way you focus on and need to play is extra vital. I feel we took the aggressive determination to play with six bowlers in order that we might bowl them out for 220-230. However they acquired away initially. They survived. They had been fortunate. There have been a few missed probabilities. In any other case issues might have been completely different.”
“It isn’t that he’s getting out shortly. If a batter could make 20, he has the flexibility to attain an eighty or 100”
Shakib is not completely disillusioned with opener Mohammad Naim
“We’ve not executed loads of experiment,” Shakib mentioned. “Naim is enjoying his fourth match [in the tournament]. We had a number of accidents after the primary recreation, however Litton [Das] got here [back] into the image. Naim acquired begins in 4 video games. It isn’t that he’s getting out shortly. I feel it’s extra about mentality than ability. If a batter could make 20, he has the flexibility to attain an eighty or 100.
“We wished to be constant [with Naim’s selection]. We did not need to put somebody in and throw him out after two video games. He had an honest run. He performed 4 video games in a row. He acquired begins in all of the video games. The disappointing aspect is that he did not ship when he ought to have performed an enormous knock. He did not get out first or second ball too. I’m not saying he made loads of contributions – he performed the brand new ball very well – however once we wanted, he could not kick on.”
Nevertheless, Shakib admitted that they should put their deteriorating batting underneath the scanner, particularly forward of the World Cup the place they’ve traditionally underperformed.
“We’ve not been batting nicely for fairly a while. It’s a matter of concern,” he mentioned. “Now we have to repair these issues. I personally really feel that we actually wanted this actuality verify earlier than the World Cup. We normally do nicely in bilateral collection. You possibly can see our outcomes from 2015 to 2019 to 2023. Our huge checks are in these huge tournaments the place now we have by no means executed something extraordinary.
“Now we have three matches within the 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019 World Cups. You will not discover loads of distinction in these performances. Now we have normally failed after we acquired the truth verify. We’re a promising group that is doing nicely on and off. We misplaced the final two house collection towards England and Afghanistan. Our batting [has] deteriorated within the final six months. It’s going downwards, so now we have to rectify shortly.”
“It’s a aid. He batted very well,” Shakib mentioned. “Enjoying within the LPL should have given him loads of confidence. He has confronted all these bowlers. I’m very pleased with the way in which he batted. It’s nonetheless an extended technique to go. A giant event is coming. I hope he continues his type.”
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
