Bangladesh are 3-0 up and have the T20I series in their bag, but a section of their fans aren’t really celebrating these results. Instead, they are dismissing them for coming against Zimbabwe, a lower-ranked side. They also have a theory that the BCB organises matches against Zimbabwe whenever the senior men’s side goes through a difficult run of results.
Taskin has routinely rushed Zimbabwe’s batters for pace during this series: case in point Clive Madande in the first T20I•AFP via Getty Images
While the IPL, across the border in India, has witnessed a frenzy of six-hitting and tall totals, this series has been a lot less high-scoring, with first-innings totals of 124, 138 and 165 in the three matches so far. Taskin put it down to conditions, and suggested that it might be unrealistic to expect big scores in Dhaka as well.
“Conditions are slightly different between here and the IPL,” he said. “Most of the games there are high-scoring. There are fewer high-scoring matches in Bangladesh. Even if we are playing Zimbabwe, we are giving our 100 per cent. They may be weaker than IPL teams but we have to give our best to beat them.”
Bangladesh’s top-order batters haven’t really hit their stride, particularly with Litton Das struggling for runs in the white-ball formats this year. Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali had to rescue the side after they lost their first three wickets in nine overs in the third T20I.
“More than anyone, we feel most disappointed when we don’t do well with bat or ball,” Taskin said. “We work hard consistently to improve our batting and bowling. We know that we haven’t started with the bat according to expectations. We are working on it. I hope we can do better in these two matches.”
Taskin was pleased with Bangladesh’s next batch of fast bowlers doing well in domestic cricket. Rejaur Rahman finished this season’s Dhaka Premier League with an eight-wicket haul, while left-arm quicks Abu Hider and Ruyel Miah finished as the top two wicket-takers overall. Taskin, who played for eventual champions Abahani Limited, took 16 wickets in eight matches at 15.37.
“It is a great sign that more fast bowlers are coming into the scene in Bangladesh,” Taskin said. “It is an additional motivation in domestic cricket, to see the fast bowlers in the national team to be more consistent. If they can play some franchise cricket, there will be more improvement. They have a better process. There’s more seriousness in maintaining good lifestyle. It is helping fast bowlers in Bangladesh.”
