Dhaka – Former captain Khaled Mahmud Sujon has blamed bowlers for Bangladesh Cricket team’s failure in New Zealand where the Tigers lost the three-match ODI series 0-2 after suffering two successive defeats.
Bangladesh went to New Zealand with a hope to clinch an ODI series on the Kiwi soil for the first time, but they failed miserably after two consecutive losses in Napier and Christchurch and are now facing bitter whitewash in the series.
In the first match of the series, Bangladesh posted a total of 232 which was chased by the hosts losing two wickets. The Tigers tasted the same results in the second match when they scored 226, and New Zealand chased down it losing two wickets. Bangladeshi bowlers were able to take only four wickets in two ODIs.
“We missed Rubel (Hossain) in the best playing XI. We saw the Kiwi bowlers did well in both of the matches. But we felt the absence of a fast bowler. We really missed Rubel in the first two matches,” Sujon said while talking to reporters on Sunday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
“At the same time, I need to admit that the New Zealand batsmen played very well than their bowlers. The wickets of New Zealand get better in the second half of ODIs. Apart from these, we can talk about the condition. The condition of New Zealand is always tough for the sub-continental teams to adapt to,” the former captain cum BCB Director further said.
Bangladesh missed the service of one of the best all-rounders of the world in Shakib Al Hasan, who was ruled out of the ODI series due to a finger injury that he sustained during the final of Bangladesh Premier League on February 8 in Dhaka.
Sujon believes the absence of Shakib created the imbalance in the team. But still, Bangladesh have the ability to bounce back and avoid the whitewash, according to him.
“Our top-order disappointed us in both of the matches but middle-order came back strongly which is a good sign for us. I think the loss of Shakib created the imbalance in the team and setting up a right combination became tough for the management. But still I believe Bangladesh can make a comeback in the last match,” the BCB director said.
Bangladesh will lock horns with the hosts in the last match of the three-match series on February 20 at Dunedin. The match will take kick off at 4am Bangladesh time.UNB
