DHAKA: The highest tournament of short version cricket ICC World Twenty20 is taking place in Bangladesh. But the Tigers’ mission has ended in failure through a defeat with the Aussie on Tuesday.
Tigers’ performance has come under analysis and criticism from different people in different angels after a series of failures during the Sri Lanka’s tour to Bangladesh and the Asia Cup prior to the T20 tournament.
Some said it was the pressure of expectation, some said it was the team’s poor performance, but what actually the national cricket team members think of their performance.
banglanews brought much of world’s number-one ranked all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’ personal observation on the team’s performance to its readers after an exclusive interview with him.
According to Shakib, the team’ main target was to qualify to the Super10 round of the World T20. And, the fans are the heart of the game, gallery (fans) is not a pressure at all. Fans’ inspiration encourages each player and the team is inspired to play better too.
Regarding the team performance in the tournament, he said it was difficult to say whether the poor performance was for the pressure of expectation but that can happen too.
The interview was brought to the readers by banglanews’ Sports Correspondent Sohanuzzaman Khan Nayan and Senior Photo Correspondent Shoib Mithun captured the images.
Banglanews: Bangladesh team’s World T20 mission is finished. What is your analysis on the team performance?
Shakib: We did not perform well enough in the Asia Cup. Then, we won well in two warm-up matches. But we should have won our first game with Afghanistan in the qualifying round; we played better with Nepal in next match. At that time, all of the team was confident well-enough.
The defeat with Hong Kong had put all of us under pressure, that loss was unexpected. Although I think, we should not take the defeat in that way. But the team, maybe, was harmed mentally for the loss. Consequently we did not get to the Super10, perhaps.
We have tried, performed better in the last match. After all, qualifying to Super10 was main target and that has been fulfilled, though the team performance was not good at all.
banglanews: Does Bangladesh’s poor performance in the T20 tournament happen for the pressure of expectation?
Shakib: First of all fans are the heart of the game. Fans’ inspiration encourages from each player to each team. And if I speak on Bangladesh’s performance in the tournament it is difficult to say whether the poor performance was for the pressure of expectation. But that can happen too. Without the fans, game has no enjoyment; excitement goes lessening, if they don’t come to the stadium.
Fans will come to the stadium, watch the game and enjoy it, I always want it.
banglanews: You spoke about pressures, do you feel it alone or the entire teem?
Shakib: I don’t think of pressure much. Truly, I never felt pressure. I have just shared what I thought after seeing the team’s condition.
banglanews: From where do you really feel pressure?
Shakib: (Fans of) the gallery is never a pressure rather they are the cause of the inspiration. If one hit a four or take a wicket fans’ cheers add to perform better.
banglanews: Does the inability to take pressure put the profession on question?
Shakib: Actually, all want to play better, all may experience pressure. A player prepares him/herself day by day. A player gains experience side by side creates professionalism to him/herself gradually. During the crisis moments, it is revealed how much pressure does one can tackle, even in the personal bad times too?
banglanews: You spoke about the playing 2 years abroad. But your success is fewer outside home. What will you say about it?
Shakib: In fact, that was not said in that way. There are no alternative playing at home. But the performance is improved, if played abroad. And then, it is easy to play at home and performance would be better everywhere. Most of all, we will have to play better wherever it is – that’s the main fact.
banglanews: The team who played the Asia Cup’s final two years ago, why did they play that much bad in a serial?
Shakib: We all are talking much about the T20 that began from the Sri Lankan’s series. But we defeated New Zealand and West Indies. We played well with Pakistan in Asia Cup. We were defeated by narrow margin. If you see, you would understand that we have improved well-enough in the Test and in One Day International crickets. All team played more T20 matches before coming to the tournament. We would do better, if we were played more games of this format. We need to play more matches for improving the T20 cricket.
banglanews: 9 months remaining to ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia, how should the team’s preparation be for the tournament?
Shakib: Honestly speaking, all teams target the 2014 World T20 after the 2011 World Cup. From board to the player, everyone goes ahead with a plan. Recently, I have played Big Bash League in Australia. I played well there. If we keep our best upheld something good will be possible in the upcoming World Cup. To do better, we must take the best preparation.
banglanews: If you are asked to take captaincy again, how much are you prepared?
Shakib: It’s not possible to say right now. If anything happens like that decision will be taken then.
banglanews: According to Sourav Ganguly Bangladesh’s performance declining that should be stopped now.
What do you think of how it is possible to stop?
Shakib: Probably, Ganguly considered the performance in the recent Asia Cup and the ongoing World tournament. But we played better last two years.
It was difficult to say, if he looked to (performance of) the pervious events. Dada (Ganguly) was in Bangladesh at that time, saw closely that’s why he thought in this way.
banglanews: What is your target in this year Indian Premier League (IPL) event?
Shakib: To play better is the target for all time. I never play on-target. I will understand after arriving there, will exercise with the team and hopefully a good time will be passed with all of them.
banglanews: Thank you for giving your time.
Shakib: Thank you too. Best Wishes for banglanews.
BDST: 1448 HRS APR 3, 2014
