“They Just Don’t Turn Up”: Former Indian Batter Criticises Senior Bangladeshi Batters After Another Early Exit

Bangladesh made another early exit from an ICC tournament. They lost their second match on the trot in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan after New Zealand swatted them away by five wickets in Rawalpindi.

Yet again, the focus was on their lacklustre batting, as they let down the talented bowling attack once again and failed to give them enough runs to defend. The two senior-most batters in the team, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahumudullah, could score only two and four runs, respectively, as Bangladesh scored only 236/9 on a pitch that was very good for batting. 

Rachin Ravindra scored 112 off just 105 deliveries to prove that as New Zealand polished off the chase with 23 deliveries remaining. 

Speaking on ESPNCricinfo’s Match Day show, former Indian batter Wasim Jaffer castigated the senior Bangladeshi batters for repeatedly letting down their team. 

“We've only seen probably Shakib [Al Hasan] with that 2019 [ODI] World Cup where he was a standout player," Jaffer said. 

"But I don't know if it's the pressure that gets to them or they put too much pressure on themselves, they just don't turn up

“Even the shot selection we've seen today was very disappointing," Jaffer said. 

"Mushfiq [Mushfiqur] playing that shot [a slog sweep off Bracewell at 97/3], Mahmudullah playing that wild shot [dancing down and trying to slog a ball on off down the ground at 118/4]. 

“And this is a must-win game. You want them to step up in these kinds of games and make themselves count. So that's been the story in the ICC events, unfortunately. They could have easily put 300-plus on that pitch. They have got themselves to blame. It is too much to ask from the bowling unit to get a team New Zealand all out for below 240.”

Former Kiwi star Shane Bond also defended the Bangladeshi bowling attack and said that he liked the look of them and they had a “lot to work with”. He remarked that the Bangladeshis will also rue the lost chances, as Ravindra’s runout was missed when he was on just 26, and later dropped twice when the chase became a formality. 

“I like the look of their bowling attack," Bond said. "They have got the heat, they have got the left-armer [Mustafizur Rahman] which New Zealand and a team like England doesn't have. The spinners are good.

"Also the fine margins… they missed chances. If you miss those run-out chances or those dropped catches, they are the difference between winning or losing a game. If they had taken those chances, this game could have been completely different. There is a lot to work with with their bowling attack. I think their batting in the end was the problem.”

India and New Zealand have advanced to the semifinals from this group after both Pakistan and Bangladesh crashing out with two wins in a row.