Sharjah:Bangladesh's stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy has admitted that the team's ambition to secure major titles has not been reflected in their recent performances, particularly due to weak batting displays. This admission follows Bangladesh's exit from the tri-nation ODI series in the United Arab Emirates after suffering consecutive defeats.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bangladesh faced a seven-wicket defeat against Afghanistan at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, followed by a 99-run loss to Zimbabwe. With just one tri-series title in 2019, the team aimed to win their second trophy in a multi-team tournament, but their hopes were dashed after failing to reach the final.
The team's batting vulnerabilities were highlighted as they were bowled out for 160 against Afghanistan, struggling to post a competitive total. Hridoy expressed his disappointment during a press conference, emphasizing the disconnect between the team's aspirations and their on-field execution. He identified poor batting, particularly in the top and middle order, as a significant factor in the team's underwhelming campaign.
Despite these setbacks, Hridoy cautioned against evaluating the team's overall strength solely based on the recent matches or series. He highlighted Bangladesh's success in home ODI cricket before the UAE tournament, with victories against teams like the West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Australia. However, he acknowledged the ongoing challenges in replicating such performances overseas, especially in batting.