Accra:Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim has urged his fellow players to take responsibility and heighten their awareness ahead of their crucial match against Afghanistan. This game is pivotal for Bangladesh as they aim to secure a place in the final of the tri-nation ODI series.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the match against Afghanistan has become a must-win for Bangladesh following their 99-run defeat to Zimbabwe in the opening match. A victory is essential not only to gain an advantage but also to address their net-run-rate issues.
Bangladesh's vulnerable batting was exposed when they failed to chase down 272 runs set by Zimbabwe, despite favorable batting conditions. Pacer Taskin Ahmed had previously voiced concerns over the team's lack of consistency and game awareness.
Ahead of the match, Tanzid concurred with Taskin's observations, admitting that the batters did not take necessary responsibility in chasing the target. "What he (Taskin) said is true. We could not take responsibility in our batting unit. The wicket was good enough, and I think the target was chase-able," Tanzid stated in a video released by the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
He emphasized the need for a change in approach, suggesting that batters should tackle challenging targets with a more positive and practical mindset by breaking them down into smaller goals. "If we play with small targets instead of thinking about 300 or 350, then things will be easier. This is how we have to set our mentality," he added.
Tanzid also noted the importance of consistency and mindset, asserting that if these two factors align, the team could perform better in difficult situations. He acknowledged that their defeat to Zimbabwe was due to their own shortcomings rather than the opposition's superiority. "We didn't play good cricket; they played better than us. That's why they won and we lost," he concluded.