Young spin sensation Mujeeb Ur Rahman on Sunday (September 15) credited pre-tour intense training sessions and team’s unity for Afghanistan’s dominance in the ongoing Bangladesh tour so far.
On their Bangladesh tour, Rashid Khan-led Afghanistan side is unbeaten at the moment having first won one-off Test against the hosts and then went on to win two consecutive matches in the ongoing T20 International Tri-series involving Zimbabwe as well.
Afghanistan registered a 25-run win over Bangladesh on the back of Mohammad Nabi's 54-ball 84 not out and Mujeeb's career-best figures of 4-15 in the third T20I of the Tri-Series on Sunday in Dhaka.
However, this victory was not easy as the tourists were on the back foot at one stage, but Nabi’s fireworks rescued Afghanistan with a brilliant knock, as well as, a fifth-wicket stand of 79 runs in around 10 overs with Asghar Afghan to recover from 40-4 to take them to a respectable 164-6.
Later, Rahman's stunning bowling helped Afghanistan to dismiss Bangladesh for 139 in 19.5 overs to secure a 25-run win over the hosts in Dhaka.
With the thrilling win, Afghanistan recorded their 12th successive victory in the shortest format of the game to script a new record in the T20I cricket, registering the most consecutive wins in the format.
Mujeeb told reporters after Dhaka T20, “All these training camp that we had [prior to the tour] was to have an unbeaten tour [though] Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are a very good team. We have a very good team and unity. The T20 team is a very good team, that's why we won the 12 matches consecutively and broke [equaled] the record of Australia.”
Meanwhile, the 18-year-old pointed out Afghanistan’s biggest strength lies in their team unity, as they are supporting each other for the cause of the team. The spinner continued, “We are doing well as the younger players are coming, including me, and they are supporting each other in the training and in the match as well. We are also enjoying our game apart from supporting each other and this spirit takes us to victories.”
Mujeeb also cleared the air about the issue between Shakib al Hasan and Rashid Khan following the two have reportedly exchanged a few words in their previous clash. Mujeeb signed off by saying, “There was no problem. Rashid was just asking about the lighting. Everyone turned on their mobile light (flashlight). That's why... there was no problem.”
Noteworthy, Afghanistan will next take on Zimbabwe on September 20 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram in the 5th match of the Tri-series.
On the other hand, Bangladesh skipper Shakib blamed lack of cohesion efforts for his team’s close defeat against Afghanistan. However, he is confident of reaching the final of the Tri-series.
The all-rounder noted, “It's happening like in every match - one or two players are performing while most of the others are not. For any [successful] side, most of the players perform and one or two fails. At the end of the day, it is a team sport and we are not playing as a team and that is why winning is becoming more difficult for us.”
Hailing Afghanistan as a tough team to beat in the T20 cricket, Shakib said: “They are a big team in T20 cricket. They are ranked number seventh while we are at ranked 10th. West Indies and Sri Lanka are above us and we beat them sometimes.”
The all-rounder explained, “But you have to say we have given them the match because at one stage we could have grabbed the game with two hands, which we did not do. We suffered a lot, conceded 15-16 extra runs and that put us behind. After all these mistakes, the difference is only 25 runs. If we can reduce these mistakes, we will have more winning opportunity.”
Shakib signed off by saying, “We still have two matches. Zimbabwe has lost two matches in two, it'll be difficult for them. I am pretty confident our team has the ability to play in the final.”
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
