I'll be frustrated if I don't see this spirit later: Mashrafe
© Cricfrenzy
||CF Correspondent||
Bangladesh failed to avoid another heartbreak this year as India picked up a last-ball victory over them to clinch the Asia Cup. Apart from losing three finals in the last four editions in the tournament, Bangladesh also lost two tri-nation series finals earlier this year.
Failing to make it count in all six multi-nation tournament finals that the Tigers have played so far, the Bangladesh national team seem to have learnt to deal with such heartbreaks. Their skipper, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza appreciated his team for the never-say-die attitude that they have been showing recently.
He said: “Everyone looked stronger than they were on the previous occasions [after losing a final], which is a good sign. They fought till the end. They had the desire to win despite all the limitations. Not only I but also they should be proud of themselves.
“Maybe they have realized – who could have done more, where were the flaws. Which is very important. [Our] cricket will grow more. There is a World Cup ahead and a few series before that. If we do not repeat our mistakes, we can go ahead.”
With two of their most important players, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan, getting ruled out in the middle of the tournament, Bangladesh did not lose courage and showed great character to win three crucial matches.
Mashrafe is not frustrated despite losing the opportunity to list the trophy at the very last moment and said that he would be disappointed if his side had given up after posting a rather petty score.
“No, I don’t have any frustration with this [loss]. I will be frustrated only if I don’t see this spirit later. The mentality that boys had while playing, is certainly amazing. But I would certainly have been disappointed if they did not try with such mentality,” said the Bangladesh captain.
