Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan said that there are no small or big teams in T20 cricket following a shocking series loss against the USA ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. Notably, Bangladesh faced a six-run defeat against the USA in the second T20I on Thursday, May 23 in Houston. As a result, the hosts registered a historic first series win over a full-member team.
Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has admitted that the stunning series loss to the USA is a reminder of how much they need to improve ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. The 37-year-old Shakib Al Hasan credited the USA for outplaying them two games in a row.
USA’s historic win over Bangladesh sends tremors in cricketing world.
Earlier, the Bangla Tigers lost the first game by five wickets at the same venue with USA chasing down the target of 154 in 19.3 overs. However in the second game Bangladesh was suppose to fightback and had restricted USA to modest 144 runs but a free spirited display by USA bowlers enabled a series win for them .
Reflecting on the embarrassing series loss, Shakib Al Hasan called it unexpected and termed it as a ‘wake up’ call for the side ahead of the World Cup 2024
We must give credit to the US team for the way they played- Shakib Al Hasan
Veteran Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has admitted that the stunning series loss to the USA is a reminder of how much they need to improve ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. The 37-year-old credited the USA for outplaying them two games in a row.
A spirited USA side beat Bangladesh in the second T20I on Thursday to register perhaps the biggest series win in their cricketing history. They chased down 154 in the opening T20I and defended a modest 144 to stun the Tigers. Speaking after the second T20I, Shakib Al Hasan hoped the series would serve as a wake-up call. As quoted by Cricbuzz, he said:
“Certainly it is disappointing and we didn’t expect it but we must give credit to the US team for the way they have played. I think no one expected that we will lose two games. Any match you lose as a team is disappointing and you don’t want to lose a game and obviously it is very disappointing. But having said that we have to play the World Cup and this series might be a wake-up call for us as we haven’t played the way we want to play.”
The former skipper also denied taking the USA lightly and claimed that the losses were down to a lack of execution. He said:
“I don’t think we took them lightly. In the first game maybe we couldn’t do what we wanted to do and in the second game exactly the same thing happened – we couldn’t execute the plans that we were supposed to do on the ground.”
Bangladesh’s batters were found wanting as only Towhid Hridoy managed a half-century across both games. He scored 58 in the first T20I at a strike rate of just 123.4.
No small or big teams in T20 cricket: Shakib Al Hasan
Further speaking ahead, the Bangladesh all-rounder spoke about the unpredictability of the T20 format and mentioned that there are no small or big teams in it which makes it way more exciting than other formats. Shakib Al Hasan’s comments come after he had earlier called the series against Zimbabwe and USA not an ‘ideal preparation’ for the T20 World Cup.
“It’s a team game and everyone has to take the responsibility – you win as a team and you lose as a team. I don’t want to blame any particular person or any particular department. It’s just that T20 is such a format you have to play very good cricket in all three departments to win against any team. There are no small or big teams in T20 cricket and that’s why it is more exciting than any other format. And the proof of that is in the last two games the way US played,” he added.
The southpaw hasn’t had a memorable time in the series so far having scored just 36 runs from two innings and is also wicket-less with the ball having an economy of 7.28.
“There should have been more facilities” – Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan went on to complain about the lack of proper training facilities at the venue, but also lamented the batters not using the optional practice session well. He added:
“If we take this as a preparation series for the World Cup, in that case we should have a lot more batting and bowling sessions and there should have been more facilities that we didn’t get at all. I feel we had a proper net session for one day and even on that day the batsmen could not had required the batting session. And there was an optional day and the batsmen did not seize the opportunity.”
The 37-year-old will be eager to inspire his side to make a comeback in the third T20I on Saturday, May 25 and help them avoid an embarrassing whitewash.
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