‘Deeply ashamed’: Salahuddin apologises after Bangladesh’s Asian Games failure
Bangladesh coach Mohammad Salahuddin admitted the team were “deeply ashamed” and apologised to the nation after the Tigers’ Asian Games campaign ended in a historic medal failure with a 63-run defeat to a second-string Sri Lanka in the bronze-medal playoff in Nisshin today.
“To be honest, we are deeply ashamed. As a coach, I feel that we have failed, and we have not been able to deliver what was expected of us. It is very disappointing, and I want to apologise to the entire nation,” Salahuddin said after the defeat.
Salahuddin accepted that Bangladesh had simply not performed as a team.
“We are certainly ashamed that they have failed, and we will try to work out how we can overcome this. But, to be honest, we did not perform well as a total team.”
We are certainly ashamed that they have failed, and we will try to work out how we can overcome this. But, to be honest, we did not perform well as a total team.
The coach also acknowledged the frustration surrounding a campaign in which Bangladesh arrived with the expectation of winning a medal but left empty-handed.
“Everyone came here to win. We came with a goal, and we have failed to achieve it. We did not play well. We hope that they will play better in the future,” he noted.
Bangladesh had sent a full-strength squad to the Games hoping to reclaim the gold medal they won in 2010, but instead finished fourth after losing both of their matches -- against Pakistan in the semifinal and Sri Lanka in the bronze-medal playoff.
The latest defeat was particularly damaging. Sri Lanka, fielding a second-string side, posted 165 for nine in 20 overs at Korogi Sports Park before Bangladesh were bowled out for 102 in 17.3 overs.
The Tigers’ chase was effectively over inside four overs, with four wickets falling for just 18 runs. Openers Saif Hassan and Tanzid Tamim, along with captain Litton Das, all failed to score.
Parvez Hossain Emon made 20 off 26 balls and Yasir Ali 21 off 16, while Nasum Ahmed top-scored with 26 off 28. Nuwan Thushara, Tharindu Ratnayake, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Wanuja Sahan took two wickets each.
Ratnayake had earlier smashed 65 off 32 balls to lead Sri Lanka to their competitive total.
The result raised further questions over Bangladesh’s preparation and execution, as well as the performances of key players and the captaincy of Litton, who was dismissed for a golden duck after scoring only two off three balls in the semifinal.
Salahuddin, however, rejected suggestions that the players lacked desire or commitment.
“No, no, that’s not right. The players are trying their very best. But I think we could not execute our game plan properly,” he said.
“Our premium bowlers could not bowl in the areas we had expected them to bowl in. But the spinners bowled very well.”
The batting collapse was another major concern.
“In batting as well, I think we were in too much of a hurry. When you lose five or six wickets in the powerplay, it becomes very difficult to get back into the match from there. Because unlike other teams, we don’t really have that many all-rounders,” Salahuddin said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. He maintained that the target was within Bangladesh’s reach.
Asked whether 165 was chaseable, he said: “Yes, of course it is possible. I think it was possible on this wicket.”
Mustafizur Rahman’s role also came under scrutiny after another expensive spell. The left-arm pacer conceded 25 runs in this match after going for 23 in the semifinal, prompting questions over why he continued to be used despite his recent struggles.
Salahuddin defended the decision to back him.
“Fizz (Mustafiz) has always been our death-overs specialist. We still have faith in him. Even if he fails again, we may still continue to back him in the same way,” he said.
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