Having already lost the one-day international series 2-0 to New Zealand, Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal wants his side to “play good cricket” in the final game in Dunedin on Wednesday, 20 February.
In the first two ODIs, Bangladesh lost their openers – Iqbal and Liton Das – within the first 10 overs, and were unable to kick on and post a competitive total. Each time, New Zealand, led by Martin Guptill’s stellar form at the top, chased down the targets comfortably.
That’s something Iqbal said needed to change. “Whoever comes in need to bat long,” he said on Monday. “To be honest I will only hope that we don’t give away the game in the opening 10 overs, because if you lose a couple of wickets it gets difficult to make a comeback.
“I think we did that in the opening two games and paid the price, and we hope not to make those mistakes in the next game.”
The pitches weren’t to blame for Bangladesh’s struggle. In fact, Iqbal said the pitches “were very good” and said the blame was on the batsmen. “To be honest, the wickets were very good, especially in the first match,” said Iqbal. “We knew that their two opening bowlers start very well and we gave away four wickets.
“The wicket was good in the second game as well but they had some help due to the weather and conditions at that time following the rain.”
When Bangladesh toured to New Zealand in 2016-17, they were clean-swept in the three-match ODI series. However, they went on to beat New Zealand twice in 2017, once in the Ireland tri-nation series, and then in the ICC Champions Trophy that followed.
Thereafter, Bangladesh had a fine 2018. They won all the ODI series they contested in – two against the Windies and one against Zimbabwe. However, that form hasn’t carried on to 2019, and with the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 just around the corner, Iqbal urged his side to “play good cricket” and to do it “quickly”.
“Last year we played some good cricket but this year we have not been able to play good cricket,” Iqbal said. “Last time we put up a fight but this year there was no contest.
“I don’t know why we are failing to beat them here despite coming to New Zealand on three to four occasions. Because we have beaten them in Ireland and England, there is no reason why we cannot beat them here. First of all, we need to play good cricket, and we need to do it quickly as the World Cup is not very far ahead.”
