Dhaka: The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) chief program coordinator, Minhajul Abedin Nannu, expressed optimism over the national cricket team’s consecutive T20 series victories against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, viewing them as promising signs ahead of the forthcoming Asia Cup tournament.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Minhajul emphasized the significance of any series victory as a positive indicator of progress, which motivates players to perform well in subsequent series. He remarked, “Yes, in this sense, it is really very positive ahead of the Asia Cup.”
However, Minhajul, a former Bangladesh captain and chief selector of BCB, voiced his dissatisfaction with the team management’s decision to implement sweeping changes in the third and final game against Pakistan. Having secured an unassailable 2-0 lead, he felt the team should have aimed to conclude the series on a high note.
Bangladesh introduced five changes to the squad for the third game, intending to rest pacers and test new players. Minhajul commented, “It would have been better to wrap up the series with a victory. Any victory is important. I understand they tried some players in the last match after confirming the series. But in my opinion, they should avoid these changes.”
Highlighting the importance of momentum in cricket, Minhajul stated, “Any victory would give you the momentum, and you know how important the momentum is in cricket.”
As Bangladesh aims to construct a stable team with the 2026 World Cup in mind, Minhajul advocates for the best players to participate in as many matches as possible. He suggested, “We should work with a pool of 20 players and provide most of the opportunities to the best performers. They should be in continuous cricket to gain the confidence and form.”
Furthermore, he stressed the importance of playing on quality pitches to help players acclimate to global tournaments, where pitches tend to be more competitive. “The team management should choose the right condition and pitches,” Minhajul advised. “I think it would be better to prepare playing in true and sporting wicket before going to the World Cup,” he added.