Sports Reporter :
Feeble fielding, dropping of two catches, wicketkeeper’s failure to capitalize chance for run-out, and above all Mashrafe’s ordinary captaincy contributed to Bangladesh team’s defeat to Australia in the T20 World Cup Cricket on Monday in Bangalore, India. Set to score 157 runs to win in 20 overs, Australia reached the target, losing seven wickets with nine balls in hand.
Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar blamed Mashrafe for Bangladesh team’s defeat. He said, weak fielding at the deep mid-wicket presented extra 20 runs to Australia. Arafat Sunny’s replacement Sajib gave away 40 runs in 3.3 overs, which is unusual in the shortest version of the cricket.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had sent Saqlain Sajib and Shuvagata Hom as replacement for Taskin and Arafat Sunny, whom the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned for so-called illegal bowling action. Cricket experts from home and abroad, including former Aussies captain Ian Chappell, have smelt conspiracy in the ICC decision, as the two bowlers’ bowling action was not challenged in last four years.
Australia got extra 20 runs for the Bangladeshi fielders and captain’s lapses. All the extra runs came through the deep mid-wicket and Mashrafe took no step to heal the wounds. Surprisingly, there was no sign of melancholy in the face of the fielder, who dropped a catch in Mustafizur’s second over. Contrarily, Aussies captain Smith and his teammates forgot smiling when Australia lost seven wickets, though victory was near to hand.
However, Bangladesh after two consecutive losses are in fact out of race. Their remaining two matches will be held today and on March 26 against India and New Zealand respectively. Bangladesh still should fight to their best to restore glory.
In the Asian Games Basketball in 2002, South Korea upset favourites China to take the gold medal. When asked about the reasons of victory, a South Korean player said, “We never thought that we would win the match. We just wanted to play our best and we did it.”
A former soccer coach from Britain said, “The three qualities of an athlete is that he must be physically fit, should have concentration of mind on the pitch and conviction to win.”
The nation now expects from the Bangladesh cricket team a beautiful result.
