Tigers should display better brand of cricket to carry on
Manager Akram returns home, lauds senior players of the team
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh team manager Akram Khan describes the team performance in ICC Champions Trophy as excellent, stating that they should attempt to play their better brand of cricket not to think much about winning or losing the match.
He also said that he believes if Bangladesh could play their better cricket, the possibility of winning the semifinal will since be more for them.
Bangladesh stepped into the knock-out stage of the Champions Trophy by doing their part as it should be. Now they will be competing in the second semifinals on Thursday against the winners of India and South Africa match.
As a Bangladeshi, we will have an expectation so that we could lift the Champions Trophy, said Akram Khan, who returned home from London on Thursday to see his ailing brother.
But it seems to me important that if India or England wins itll be different thing but if we could win the trophy, itll then be a big achievement for us as we didnt win it before, Khan told media.
For this we should try to play our better cricket not to focus much on winning or losing the match. I believe if Bangladesh could play better cricket in the ground, the possibility of winning the semifinal for us will since be apparent more, he added.
Citing the track record of the last two and half-a-years, Akram said that the players theyve in the squad are proven and trustworthy if they could perform what they did they will have chance to do fare well in the showpiece event.
Bangladesh since the initial stage have been playing better cricket. Actually theyve been performing better for the last two and-a-half-years. Sometimes when one more senior player goes on off-form, we create mental pressure on them. Thats a matter of sadness, former skipper, who is now a board director and also its cricket operation chairman, said.
These players are proven who have been playing for Bangladesh for the last 10 years and helped the team win a number of matches. We should keep faith in them. The plan we prepared after consulting with players, coach, selectors and the team management thats was good, he also said.
Players performance is being extraordinary. They proved their improved quality. They did 268 for five from a precarious 33 for four. That was an extra-ordinary performance. Important thing is that our players are very good. I believe if they could perform like such we could then achieve big success not only in Champions Trophy but also big tournaments, he added.
Praising the senior players of the team, BCB cricket operation chairman said, I feel proud of our senior players. I was with the team as former cricketer, team manager, BCB director for a longer period. I saw how they guide their junior players. They made them as a good squad.
Im very much proud of it because I had no idea that theyll do such better result so quick. Top eight teams are playing Champions Trophy. Were in this group. We played very well even against England. Batting has been better even though bowling has not better. Then we had a good plan against Australia. I saw it as I was witnessed it from the Oval.
In third match, fielding has been good. Batting has not been done well but Shakib and Mahmudullah batted well. Weve quality players but important thing is that weve to play as a team. Weve to keep in mind that the matches we played as a team work then weve achieved a lot, he signed off.
