Agency:
Former Bangladesh ODI skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza blamed the team management for failing to perform that he feels played a part behind the loss against Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh performance came under scrutiny following their loss to Sri Lanka after certain bowling changes coupled by sloppy fielding took the game away from their grip as half-centuries by Mohammad Naim and Mushfiqur Rahim went in vain after they failed to defend 171 runs on the board.
Liton Das dropped two catches in the deep at crucial times and Lankans never looked back after getting those lives to chase down the total comfortably.
Mashrafee on his official Facebook page came hard against head coach Russell Domingo and members of his team management for failing to back cricketers.
“I heard a lot of things after the match and this is very logical that people will react when a team loses. I never think only Liton and Mahmudullah are alone responsible for losing the match. I think Coach Domingo is same responsible,” Mashrafee was quoted in the Facebook.
“When Sri Lanka were 69 for four in 9.4 overs, then according to ICC rules it was drinks break which means the coach will enter the field. He must have discussed with Mahmudullah about their next steps. Of course on-field captain’s call is final, but I think the decision came following the discussion with coach about the crucial moment of the important match because the captain is under pressure on various issues,” he said.
“Did the coach want to know what his (Mahmudullah) plan was because Mahmudullah’s mistake has been caught since that time? Probably Mahmudullah gave 5-6 runs in the 12th over before he brought Afif in the 13th over. Afif was hammered in that over conceding 15 runs. But I think Mahmudullah brought Afif because of breaking the crucial stand and the opportunity was created. If the opportunity was not missed then we would have said great captaincy. Dropping catch is not the first time and Liton is perhaps one of the best fielders in the team,” he said.
”I don’t think only two people are to be blamed just because the team did not succeed. And that’s exactly why I thought, if the coach doesn’t talk to Mahmudullah about game plan than any team member can be sent to the field during the break,” he pointed out.
