The fear was there for the Bangladesh cricket team. The fear of succumbing to a defeat against rising cricketing outfit Afghanistan, who are ahead of Bangladesh in the ICC T20I ranking. And that particular fear haunted the Tigers in the first T20I against the Afghans in Dehradun, India Sunday.
Afghanistan outplayed Bangladesh in all three departments, on their way to a commanding 45-run victory. The Tigers knew it would be a tough challenge against the Afghans in the T20I format but the way Bangladesh approached the game was frustrating.
The difference between the two teams becomes clearly visible when comparing the last few overs of both the innings. Afghanistan scored 71 in their last 30 balls, losing four wickets, while Bangladesh made 28 in their last 30 deliveries, for the loss of five wickets.
Most of the Bangladesh batsmen were nervous against the Afghanistan bowlers while chasing the 168-run target. The chase was not impossible. But the nervous approach made it all the more difficult for the Bangladesh batsmen.
Bangladesh lost the first T20I against Afghanistan by 45 runs. #BANvAFG pic.twitter.com/3Aj5haZ3xZ
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) June 3, 2018
Tamim Iqbal seemed confused the very first delivery that he faced as he was trapped in front by Mujeeb ur Rahman. Bangladesh Test and T20I captain Shakib al Hasan too was unconvincing during his 14-ball 15 before giving his wicket away to Mohammad Nabi.
The well-set Liton Das threw his wicket away while trying to play a reverse sweep against Nabi. More surprisingly however, Mushfiqur Rahim also lost his wicket while trying to play a reverse sweep only to fail to connect a wrong-un delivery from Rashid Khan. Mushfiq, often considered one of Bangladesh’s most cool-headed batsmen, tried to play this unorthodox shot in the very first delivery Rashid bowled in the game. The result? Mushfiq missed it completely as the ball hit the timber.
After 10 overs, Bangladesh had scored 79 losing three wickets with Mushfiq and Mahmudullah at the crease. But Mushfiq’s wrong shot-selection certainly gave Afghanistan the upper hand at that stage. It was perhaps not a wise decision to play that kind of a shot against Afghanistan’s main strike bowler, that too in his very first delivery. Even if that delivery had gone for a boundary, it would not have been wise shot-selection to say the least, because the bowler was Rashid, who is currently in red-hot form.
In the very next delivery, Rashid pinned Sabbir Rahman in front. Sabbir was out for a golden duck and Bangladesh were on the backfoot straightaway.
A great bowling display by Rashid Khan earned him the man of the match award in the first T20I against @BCBtigers .#AFGvBAN #1stT20I pic.twitter.com/3v7rDxqemV
— Afghan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) June 3, 2018
Mosaddek Hossain was never comfortable at the crease as he scored 14 off 24 balls, when the asking rate was more than 11-12. Mahmudullah tried to form a partnership but in the end, it was not enough. And like many times before, Bangladesh’s tail fell like a house of cards. The Tigers were not even able to bat 20 overs in a T20I after being bundled out inside 19 overs.
The fear of the Afghanistan spin attack, and perhaps, trying too hard to hit a boundary caused problems aplenty for the Tigers. Death-over bowling was frustrating for Bangladesh as well as they conceded 62 runs in the last four overs.
The Afghan batsmen displayed some clinical hitting all over the ground and put on a challenging total in the end. With that said, their overall batting performance, especially at the beginning, was planned and composed well. They built a solid opening wicket partnership. They waited for the bad ball to score a boundary and respected the good deliveries by milking ones and twos. And that’s what T20 cricket is all about, isn’t it?
It doesn’t mean you have to smash every ball for a four or a six. With just one or two boundary per over, it is still possible to put on a strong total on the board. And that’s what Afghanistan showed in the first T20I. Mind it, they also chased down Bangladesh’s 146-run target in the lone practice match two days ago, that too with 22 balls and eight wickets in hand.
Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by 45 runs in the first T20I of Biman Bangladesh Airlines T20I series. #AFGvBAN pic.twitter.com/2gXG16r41h
— Afghan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) June 3, 2018
And so, the first T20I is done and dusted. Afghanistan have the upper hand. They have shown that in the 22 yards, they a better team than Bangladesh, if the ICC T20I ranking is anything to go by.
However, there are still two matches left in the series. Bangladesh have plenty of experience and talent to turn the tables around. But first, they have to conquer the fear factor. The fear of losing against a team like Afghanistan.
The Tigers need to play smart and calculated cricket against the Afghans in the next two games. Bangladesh have dealt with such a challenge before and they can do it again. They just need to be smarter on the field and play fearless cricket, just like the way they played in the Nidahas T20I tri-nation series earlier this year in Sri Lanka. Good luck, Tigers!
