Bangladesh is looking for a dominating victory in the tour-ending second T20 match against Zimbabwe in a bid to gain much-needed confidence for the next month’s Pakistan tour.
The Tigers will play a one-off ODI and the second Test in their last phase of the Pakistan tour in April and a tour sweep against Zimbabwe would bolster their confidence to put up better show than the previous two times, said team’s all-rounder Mahedi Hasan. Bangladesh was whitewashed in the three-match T20 series before losing the first Test badly against Pakistan.
But to gain that confidence Mahedi stressed on to achieve yet another dominating victory, giving Zimbabwe no scope of fighting like the way they scared Bangladesh in the second ODI.
Apart from second ODI, Bangladesh however won all of the matches against Zimbabwe in the tour in absolute dominating fashion.
“Since we won the Test, ODI and first T20 with absolute dominating fashion, giving them no scope to fight, we’ll play the second T20 match in that aggressive fashion,” Mahedi said here on Tuesday.
“If we can win the series in out-and-out dominating fashion, our confidence will be further bolstered. And we need that because we have a one- day and Test in Pakistan. Hopefully this confidence will help us in that series.”
But when they talk about ‘absolute domination’, Mahedi said they are not over-confident or not feeling any complacent.
“It’s not about over confidence. What is positive for us that the batsmen have been amongst runs. Even most of the batsmen in the batting order didn’t get the chance to bat. If you look at ODI, the batsman from No.1 to No.5 got the opportunity to bat and such was the domination. The other batsmen also are craving for runs,” he said.
“But we are not taking Zimbabwe lightly. In short format of cricket, the momentum can be changed at any moment. So we have to careful and at the same time stick to our aggressive brand of cricket.”
Mahedi said that the dressing room discussion revolves around as to how they could keep up that dominating cricket against other nations too.
“After I entered to the dressing room, I am hearing the discussion is going around to how we can play dominating cricket against other nations too. The target is to keep up the dominating cricket in the next time also, whatever the opposition is. Mahmudullah Riyad is talking positive in the
dressing room and said if we can play energetic cricket and stick to our aggressive brand, we can play this cricket in upcoming series also.”
Mahedi also said that the achievement shouldn’t be taken away only because the opposition is Zimbabwe.
“We have also whitewashed big teams in the past. So what matters, is the confidence, whatever the opposition is. Since we have gained much confidence from this series, I think it will help us in future too,” he added.
