Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal was “disappointed” with his team’s 97-run loss to Sri Lanka in the third and final ODI on Friday (May 28) in Dhaka despite clinching their maiden bilateral series over the Islanders. Bangladesh won the home series 2-1 against Sri Lanka to go on top of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League standings.
Tamim rued that Bangladesh failed to earn the full 30 points on offer in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka at home, as the ICC ODI Super League's points are being directly connected to the qualification for the forthcoming 2023 Cricket World Cup.
The skipper further said that the Tigers might have won the ODI series but doesn’t think the hosts played really well as their fielding especially in the final game was disappointing and batting too.
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Bangladesh dropped Kusal Perera thrice and he made the most of the opportunity by hammering brilliant 120 off 122 balls to help Sri Lanka post 286/6, and then pacer Dushmantha Chameera claimed a career-best 5/16 to take the tourists to 97 run victory over the hosts.
Tamim told reporters: “It is disappointing. The ICC ODI Super League is not like a typical bilateral series that you win two matches, win the series and there is nothing more to achieve. When we had the opportunity, we should have finished it properly. You never know these 10 points might come back to bite us. We should have grabbed full points as there was an opportunity.”
He further pointed out after the final game, “We won the series, but I don't think we played really well. We did not bat as per our expectations. The bowling was good while the fielding was good in the opening two games but today it (fielding) was like we were back in the same, bad place. We failed to hold important catches at important times. If we forget everything thinking we have won the series, it won't take us anywhere. I think we have lot of areas to work and improve.”
The ODI skipper also opened up on the decision to pick Naeem Sheikh in place of Liton Kumar Das despite having Soumya Sarkar as the second opener in the squad.
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Tamim further explained, “I think Liton has received lot of chances. He failed to perform in the last eight to nine matches, but this is not the end for him because we all know how capable he is as a player. You can say about Soumya and Naeem, but we all felt he batted well in the practice game. Today was his first game but I hope he will get more chances.
I feel if a right-handed batsman opens with me, it is better for the team, but my wish is not everything. If anyone performs like Soumya or Naeem, he will have his chances and all I can say is that he will be getting opportunities.”
Tamim was also disappointed by the umpire's decision to rule him out caught behind on Friday.
He signed off by saying, “I was disappointed as I am hundred percent sure it did not touch my bat. When the ball passed me, the bat touched the ground and if the on-field umpire did not give me out it would have been a different thing.”
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
