Bangladesh’s cricket team, aiming to bounce back after a disappointing Asia Cup, is preparing to face Afghanistan in the first match of a three-match T20I series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE. The match is set to kick off at 9:00 PM Bangladesh Standard Time.
The team, already at a disadvantage following their inability to chase down 135 runs against Pakistan during the Asia Cup, received further bad news as regular captain Liton Das was sidelined due to injury. Stand-in captain Jaker Ali expressed the team’s disappointment regarding Liton’s absence, noting, “Liton’s news is a bit harsh for us. He is the skipper, and he is doing really well with the bat. That cost us in the Asia Cup. But we move forward and keep looking forward to doing well.”
Compounding their challenges, Soumya Sarkar, who was brought in as Liton’s replacement, faces delays due to visa issues and is likely to miss the first match. The team management reassured fans that they are working to resolve the visa complications swiftly.
Batting form has been a persistent issue for Bangladesh, which Jaker acknowledged. “Our main plan will be to perform as a batting unit, as we had to suffer due to our batting. That’s why we have to pay our attention to the batting side,” he stated.
Despite their recent struggles, Jaker remains optimistic about improving performances in this series. “We come here with a hope of playing good cricket in the Asia Cup. But we failed to do that. But yes, we have a good mindset to play this series well,” he said. He emphasized the importance of the team’s preparation and readiness for the encounters ahead.
As the stand-in captain, Jaker is conscious of his responsibilities and aims to adjust to his new role. “I am new as a captain, so I am trying to adjust those things and keep delivering in the centre. I will try to perform the duties and play according to the team plan,” he mentioned.
Sharjah Stadium holds special significance for the Afghan team, which has used it as a home ground in the past. Bangladesh, however, recalls a challenging previous series in the UAE where they faced losses, adding pressure to perform better this time around. Jaker noted, “We have to play well on a particular day. We could not play well as a team in that [UAE] series.”
As the team gears up for what hopes to be a revitalizing series, both players and fans are eager for a turnaround in fortune. With their eyes set on revival, Bangladesh will strive to capitalize on their strengths and deliver commendable performances on the field.