BSS, Chattogram :
Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal is unfazed by the threat of Afghanistan spinners, stating that the format of the cricket motivated them ahead of the three-match ODI series.
Tamim though termed the Afghans spin attack, comprised by Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi as ‘probably the best of world’ but said, ‘We know how to deal with them.’
“I don’t want to talk about any particular bowler. Probably their spin attack is the world’s best but we have done well against them in the past, specially in ODI format and we played well against this bowling attack,” Tamim said on Tuesday during the pre-match conference.
Tamim however was right in his assessment. Bangladesh ruled Afghanistan in ODI cricket, winning five of the eight matches they played against them but in T20 cricket Bangladesh won just two and lost four matches out of six.
“Undoubtedly ODI is our favourite format. We are raring to go in tomorrow’s ODI. Hopefully we’ll get a good start,” Tamim added.
Tamim said since they have done well against Afghanistan in the past in ODI cricket, there is no reason that “as to why we can’t replicate that result again.”
“We have to think about ourselves rather than thinking about what they can do. You are talking about three spinners but they will bowl 50 overs to us. The rest of the two who will bowl the rest of the 20 overs, are also good. In International cricket, you will hardly get any bowlers who will give cheap runs. We have to play to our best ability,” he added.
Apart from Afghan spinners, what may play against them is their rust in this format as Bangladesh last played an ODI in July last year during a three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe.
But Tamim doesn’t think the rust will have any impact on them.
“Everyone here is experienced so they know how to prepare them for a format after a long time. It’s good that we will start the series against them in the ODI format, which we like most. We are very good team in the ODI format. But what is important is to get back to the rhythm. We have been in cricket and we have been in form. I think those who will play tomorrow, have been in good rhythm,” Tamim remarked.
