After captain Mahmudullah, Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo has also criticized the pitch prepared for the ongoing three-match T20I series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore following the Tiger’s massive defeat in the second match on Saturday (January 25).
Domingo’s comments came after Bangladesh lost the T20I series to the hosts with heavy margins’ defeat in the first two matches with the final will be played on January 27, saying the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) curators prepared the “average pitches” in Lahore that did not suit his batsmen.
The tourists were beaten by nine wickets in the second T20I trailing the three-match series 0-2 after suffering a 5-wicket defeat in the series-opening match in Lahore on January 24.
Read Also: Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah critical of Lahore pitch after loss in first T20I
Domingo said, “The wickets have not been great and a little bit average. It was not easy to bat on them, the pitch was a bit better today but we have a very young batting line-up.”
He continued, “I think we were around 15 runs short in the first match and around 35 runs short in the second match. But look you have to keep in mind that Pakistan is the number one T20 side today and we are number nine. And they showed today why they are number one.”
The coach also admitted that Bangladesh felt the absence of its key players like Shakib ul Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim in Pakistan but it was a good opportunity for the younger players for learning.
He further added, “We decided to bat first both times because it didn’t look like an easy wicket to bat on and we thought that if we put up a respectable total we could test and squeeze their batsmen in the chase. I think we did that in the first match.”
The South African admitted that Pakistan was always a fantastic side while defending totals but they were testing an inexperienced batting side but says they need to improve to take the next level.
Domingo signed off by saying, “This is my first tour with them and there is work to be done with them. We have all got things we need to improve upon and take our game to the next level.”
(With PTI Inputs)
