Former Bangladesh cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan recently addressed the media, expressing his deep disappointment over Bangladesh’s unexpected series loss to the United States. This defeat comes just ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, raising alarms within the Bangladeshi camp. Speaking candidly, Shakib acknowledged the 2-0 series scoreline, describing it as both disheartening and a wake-up call for the team.
Bangladesh, trailing 2-0 in the three-match series, will take to the field on May 25 at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas, for the final match. The stakes are high as they look to salvage some pride. “Certainly it is disappointing and we didn’t expect it but we must give credit to the US team for the way they have played,” Shakib stated, as quoted by Cricbuzz. The all-rounder emphasized that the losses were unexpected for everyone, including fans and team members alike. “Any match you lose as a team is disappointing and you don’t want to lose a game and obviously it is very disappointing. But having said that we have to play the World Cup and this series might be a wake-up call for us as we haven’t played the way we want to play,” Shakib elaborated.
In the high-paced, unpredictable format of T20 cricket, Shakib emphasized the importance of team effort. “It’s a team game and everyone has to take the responsibility – you win as a team and you lose as a team. I don’t want to blame any particular person or any particular department,” he continued. Highlighting the intrinsic complexities of the T20 format, Shakib pointed out, “It’s just that T20 is such a format you have to play very good cricket in all three departments to win against any team. There are no small or big teams in T20 cricket and that’s why it is more exciting than any other format.”
The all-rounder gave due credit to the USA team, acknowledging their superior performance in both matches.
. “And the proof of that is in the last two games the way US played,” Shakib added, referring to how the American side capitalized on their opportunities.
Reflecting on their own performance, Shakib addressed the notion that Bangladesh might have underestimated their opponents, but dismissed it. “I don’t think we took them lightly. In the first game maybe we couldn’t do what we wanted to do and in the second game exactly the same thing happened – we couldn’t execute the plans that we were supposed to do on the ground.”
In the broader context of T20 cricket, Shakib noted the increasing parity among teams worldwide. “In T20 every team is very much equal. I have seen the game between West Indies A and Nepal and they really played well and you are seeing games between Ireland and Netherlands and they are playing very close matches. Pakistan lost to Ireland and in T20 it is anybody’s game,” he observed.
The star all-rounder stressed the significance of seizing critical moments within the game. “It is on the day who performs better, and so you cannot take anything lightly in T20 cricket because one or two overs can change the momentum of the game and completely change the scenario of the game. That’s why you are always up for the challenges and you cannot take anything lightly or anything for granted.”
Shakib’s reflections come as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket and the importance of consistency and execution in every match. His insights, while underscoring the disappointment and challenges faced by the Bangladeshi team, also highlight the potential lessons to be learned and the need for improvement as they prepare for the World Cup.
The upcoming match on May 25 presents a critical opportunity for Bangladesh to recalibrate and regain their confidence ahead of the global tournament. Fans and analysts alike will be keenly watching to see how the team responds to this “wake-up call” in what promises to be a crucial fixture for both team morale and preparation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
