Nasif
May 24, 2004, 06:31 PM
'We need big hitters'
Sports Reporter
Former captain Khaled Mahmud believes that Bangladesh desperately need some big hitting batsmen if they are to win one-day matches.
The veteran of 59 one-day internationals made the remark after returning from the West Indies on Monday.
"We lack batsman capable of using the long handle when it comes to curtailed-over contest. It was evident in the ODIs against West Indies," said Mahmud who along with injured opener Shahriar Hossain and uncapped left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak flew home after the three-match one-day series that the Tigers lost 3-0.
But the diminutive all-rounder felt that if Bangladesh had won the first game then things could have been different.
"Still I can't believe that we lost the first one-day match and that near miss upset the players. If we had won that match it could have been a different story," said Mahmud while referring to the one-wicket loss in the first one-day at St Vincent on May 15.
Bangladesh scored only 144-9 in that game but the bowlers almost pulled off an incredible victory when they picked up nine West Indies wickets but that was not enough.
Mahmud was one of the three bowlers who did the damage and the military medium pacer thinks that this is area Bangladesh has shown marked improvement.
"We made significant improvement in bowling and fielding but the batting still remains a cause of concern. Our batsmen repeatedly made same mistakes and I believe there is need of some creative thinking to overcome those errors."
When asked what he meant by creative thinking Mahmud said that it was something to do with the change of attitude of a player.
"We have grown up with an idea that scoring in the 30s or 40s is enough to keep ones place intact in the side. This view has to change because our aim is to win matches now instead of playing only good cricket.
To do that we have to introduce a system of substitute players", said Mahmud adding that Bangladesh need a very strong A team.
The thinking cricketer also highlighted the problem our players faced in the two rain-reduced 25-over matches.
"In such situations you need some good clean hitters that our opponents had in abundance. But we have only a couple like Alok Kapali who is desperately out of touch now. The other player is Rafique who can hit the ball quite a distance", said the 33-year-old Mahmud, who admitted he himself had lost his big hitting prowess.
"Now I'm just a bowler who can bat a bit. May be batting at number nine does not give someone a chance to show his batting skills but I feel that I have also let the team down with my batting," Mahmud said. He took three wickets and scored only five runs in the ODI series.
Source: <a href=http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/05/25/d40525040138.htm>Dailystar</a>
Sports Reporter
Former captain Khaled Mahmud believes that Bangladesh desperately need some big hitting batsmen if they are to win one-day matches.
The veteran of 59 one-day internationals made the remark after returning from the West Indies on Monday.
"We lack batsman capable of using the long handle when it comes to curtailed-over contest. It was evident in the ODIs against West Indies," said Mahmud who along with injured opener Shahriar Hossain and uncapped left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak flew home after the three-match one-day series that the Tigers lost 3-0.
But the diminutive all-rounder felt that if Bangladesh had won the first game then things could have been different.
"Still I can't believe that we lost the first one-day match and that near miss upset the players. If we had won that match it could have been a different story," said Mahmud while referring to the one-wicket loss in the first one-day at St Vincent on May 15.
Bangladesh scored only 144-9 in that game but the bowlers almost pulled off an incredible victory when they picked up nine West Indies wickets but that was not enough.
Mahmud was one of the three bowlers who did the damage and the military medium pacer thinks that this is area Bangladesh has shown marked improvement.
"We made significant improvement in bowling and fielding but the batting still remains a cause of concern. Our batsmen repeatedly made same mistakes and I believe there is need of some creative thinking to overcome those errors."
When asked what he meant by creative thinking Mahmud said that it was something to do with the change of attitude of a player.
"We have grown up with an idea that scoring in the 30s or 40s is enough to keep ones place intact in the side. This view has to change because our aim is to win matches now instead of playing only good cricket.
To do that we have to introduce a system of substitute players", said Mahmud adding that Bangladesh need a very strong A team.
The thinking cricketer also highlighted the problem our players faced in the two rain-reduced 25-over matches.
"In such situations you need some good clean hitters that our opponents had in abundance. But we have only a couple like Alok Kapali who is desperately out of touch now. The other player is Rafique who can hit the ball quite a distance", said the 33-year-old Mahmud, who admitted he himself had lost his big hitting prowess.
"Now I'm just a bowler who can bat a bit. May be batting at number nine does not give someone a chance to show his batting skills but I feel that I have also let the team down with my batting," Mahmud said. He took three wickets and scored only five runs in the ODI series.
Source: <a href=http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/05/25/d40525040138.htm>Dailystar</a>