Jaffer criticizes Mushfiq-Mahmudullah
Mushfiqur Rahim- Mahmudullah, file photo
Despite the bowlers putting up a fight, the low total was never enough to pose a real challenge. Poor batting performances were the primary reason behind Bangladesh's back-to-back defeats.
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Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer pinpointed the underperformance of senior batters Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad as a significant reason for Bangladesh's struggles.
Both players played reckless shots against New Zealand, leading to early dismissals and leaving the team reeling at five wickets down by the 27th over. Jaffer, who had previously coached Bangladesh's U-19 team, did not hold back, stating that senior cricketers often fail to perform in ICC events.
In an interview with sports website ESPNcricinfo, Jaffer said, "We probably saw Shakib Al Hasan shine with the bat during the 2019 World Cup. But I don't know what kind of pressure this is. Are they taking on too much pressure? Because they just can't perform on the big stage."
Mahmudullah has a history of performing well in ICC events. He scored back-to-back centuries in the 2015 World Cup and also notched a century against New Zealand in the 2017 Champions Trophy.
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However, this time around, he missed the first match due to injury and managed only four runs in the second match, displaying a lackluster batting approach.
"The shot selection we saw today was very disappointing. Mushfiq played that shot, Mahmudullah too played a reckless shot. And this was a match that could have been easily won. They always talk about performing well, but unfortunately, they always fail in ICC events." Jaffer added.
Jaffer believes Bangladesh missed out on 50-60 additional runs on the Rawalpindi pitch. He said, "They could have easily scored over 300 on that pitch. So, they only have themselves to blame. It was asking too much of the bowling unit to bowl New Zealand out for under 240."
With Bangladesh's early exit from the Champions Trophy, the team will need to address its recurring issues in batting and fielding to break free from this persistent cycle of underperformance in major tournaments.
