June 25th 2024.
Kingstown: In a heartfelt apology to the devoted cricket fans of Bangladesh, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed deep regret for their disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup. He took full responsibility for the team's shortcomings and acknowledged the disappointment and frustration felt by their supporters. Shanto attributed their defeat against Afghanistan to the lackluster performance of their batting unit.
After India's victory over Australia on Sunday, both Afghanistan and Bangladesh had a chance to secure a spot in the semifinals. However, it was Afghanistan, led by Rashid Khan, who defended their below-par score of 115 and made it to the last-four stage. Despite the rain-marred Super Eight contest, Bangladesh needed to chase down the target in 12.1 overs but were ultimately all out for 105.
Shanto addressed the media at the post-match press conference and began by saying, "First and foremost, I would like to apologize on behalf of the team to all the fans of Bangladesh who have been following and supporting us. As a batting group, we couldn't deliver our best for the people of our country." He expressed remorse for their performance and assured that they will work towards improving in the future.
Despite the disappointment, Shanto tried to find some positives from their campaign. "On the bright side, our bowlers have been exceptional throughout the tournament. Rishad has been consistent in his performance, and there were many other positives. However, as a batting unit, we let down our fans and our country," he said. Shanto acknowledged the team's efforts and honesty but admitted that they fell short in the end.
Reflecting on their match against Afghanistan, Shanto admitted that they had control of the game at one point and should have won. "Our bowling unit has been outstanding, especially Rishad, who has been consistent throughout the tournament. Our fielding has also been top-notch. These are some of the positives that we can take forward," he said. However, he also expressed frustration and disappointment at not being able to capitalize on their chance to win the match.
When asked about their approach in the powerplay and Mahmudullah's slow batting, Shanto said, "Our initial plan was to go hard in the first six overs and then reassess our strategy. However, when we lost three early wickets, we had to change our plan and focus on winning the match. Unfortunately, our middle order made some poor decisions, and that cost us the game." Shanto admitted that their batting unit made some bad decisions, ultimately leading to their defeat.
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