Dhaka: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Akram Khan has expressed concerns over the performance of Bangladesh’s batters during their ongoing tour of Sri Lanka, suggesting that the players are not in the right frame of mind. “Looking at the batting of our batters, it seems to me that they are not playing the normal cricket, like the way we play in the Dhaka League or here,” Akram told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bangladesh showcased good cricket in the first Test but eventually succumbed to a 1-0 series loss after a poor batting display in the second game. The team further struggled in the ODI series, losing 2-1. Akram, who is also a former Bangladesh captain, expressed his confusion over the players’ apparent pressure. “Watching the game from afar, I feel that the players are under extra pressure. I don’t know why they feel so,” he said, emphasizing the importance of the right mindset for performance.
Akram noted that Bangladesh’s batting style, marked by mistakes and attitude issues, did not reflect normal cricket. The team’s vulnerability was evident as they were unable to complete 50 overs in any of the three ODIs, despite winning one match. Tanzim Hasan Sakib’s contribution, scoring 33 off 21 at number 8 in the second ODI, highlighted the bowlers’ unexpected role in rescuing the batting lineup.
Expressing frustration, Akram pointed out the lack of adherence to basic cricketing principles. He stressed the need for improvement in skill set and behavior, noting that other teams do not exhibit such problems despite occasional losses. He warned that these issues, persisting over the last two years, are becoming significant and persistent. “It’s okay if it happens in one or two matches, but it’s happening day by day,” Akram said, urging the team to address these problems to avoid negative outcomes in their performance.