Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh captain, said his team needed to improve drastically to make a comeback in the three-match Twenty20 International series against Afghanistan, reported ICC.
Bangladesh are trailing the series 1-0 after their 45-run loss in the first T20I in Dehradun on Sunday 3 June. Afghanistan, after being put in, successfully defended 167, with Rashid Khan’s brilliant 3/13 restricting Bangladesh to 122.
“We have to focus on various areas and make drastic improvements. They are a good side,” said Shakib. “In all three departments – batting, bowling, and fielding – they were ahead of us. They just crushed us in every department.”
A couple of the Bangladesh bowlers went for over 10 runs an over – Abu Jayed conceded 34 in his three overs, while Abul Hasan was taken for 40 in his three.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, added 72 runs in the last five overs to boost their total to respectability – they were teetering at 91/4 in the 14th over – with Samiullah Shenwari (36 off 18) and Shafiqullah Shafiq (24 off 8) going big.
“We bowled well in general, but we were let down in the last four overs,” said Shakib. “It is not acceptable to give away more than 60 runs in the last four overs. We paid the price for it.”
