Towhid Hridoy: 'Our batting unit has been consistently poor abroad'
Against Zimbabwe in their first match, Bangladesh were bowled out for 172 to lose by 99 runs, and then they put up just 160 batting first against Afghanistan, losing by seven wickets with 87 balls remaining. Abject performances, but Hridoy pointed out that the batters had done well at home earlier this year when they won three consecutive home series. Since then, though, Bangladesh have lost the ODI series in Zimbabwe and were knocked out early from the Asian Games.
"It is quite clear that the batters have performed very poorly in the last two matches, and the entire team has suffered as a result," Hridoy said after Bangladesh's exit from the UAE tri-series. "The batting unit failed collectively. We haven't been performing well in away series, while we have won several series quite convincingly at home. There are definitely areas where our batting unit needs to improve, especially when playing in foreign conditions.
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"Keep in mind that this same team has defeated some major opponents on our home soil. We have beaten Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan at home. I wouldn't judge the entire team based on just one or two matches or a couple of series. I believe the team is in a good state overall. However, it's obvious to everyone that our batting unit has been consistently poor in the recent matches played abroad, which has caused the whole team to struggle. Conversely, when we play at home, our batters have performed well in almost every match. So there are clearly specific areas that need development when we play away from home."
Bangladesh were 28 for 4 by the seventh over against Afghanistan, with Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto caught behind, Soumya Sarkar bowled off the inside edge and Hridoy caught and bowled. Against Zimbabwe, Tanzid made a good start while the rest crumbled and they were 129 for 7 at one stage.
"The issue is indeed related to mindset. I believe there is room for improvement here," Hridoy said. "As professional players, it is essential that we adapt quickly to conditions. We have lost almost all of our recent away matches. This is an area that truly requires improvement. There is significant room for us to get better.
"The question is whether we are playing with the necessary courage. In international cricket, it is extremely difficult to succeed if you maintain a defensive mindset. When our entire batting unit collapses and we are unable to recover, it suggests that we need to devise better plans"
Towhid Hridoy
"There are moments, for instance, when we lose early wickets or several wickets in quick succession, where we need to steady the ship and hold our ground. Instead, when a collapse begins, it affects everyone at once. It is crucial that one or two players take responsibility in such difficult situations to steer the team toward a better position."
This year, Bangladesh have lost four and won one ODI while on the road, and won six and lost three while at home. A clear mismatch in returns. Bangladesh haven't won an away ODI series since May 2023, when they beat Ireland. Since then, they have won a Test series in Pakistan and won Tests in the West Indies and more recently in Australia.
"To be honest, I haven't analysed the root cause of this in great depth," Hridoy said. "After all, just two series ago, we performed well at home. We aren't doing well abroad. This has been the trend for nearly a year-and-a-half now. It is essential to adapt to foreign conditions quickly. At the same time, we must act according to with the match situation demands. Frankly, though we talk about this, we haven't been able to translate it into action.
"I believe the issue lies in the failure of our batsmen. The question is whether we are playing with the necessary courage. In international cricket, it is extremely difficult to succeed if you maintain a defensive mindset. When our entire batting unit collapses and we are unable to recover, it suggests that we need to devise better plans. Every team usually has a few exceptional players. These are individuals who possess the belief and ability to steer the side out of difficult situations. I feel we are currently lacking in this regard."
Mohammad Isam is Cricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
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