Bangladesh’s interim Twenty20 cricket team captain Mahmudullah speaks during a press conference at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday. — AFP photo
Bangladesh’s interim Twenty20 skipper Mahmudullah on Saturday said that he was excited with the captaincy challenge and urged his team-mates to put up a collective effort in their opening match of three-match Twenty20 international series against India.
The Tigers will take on hosts India in the first Twenty20 international at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi today with hopes of bringing some fresh air in the country’s most popular sport after a recent series of off-the-field controversies.
From players’ strike for renovating country’s cricket structure to the ICC imposing a two-year ban on their regular Test and Twenty20 skipper Sakib al Hasan for failing to report corrupt approaches, Bangladesh cricket has faced a turbulent two weeks.
Mahmudullah, who had previous experience of leading Bangladesh in five Twenty20s and six Tests, was provided the captaincy role in Twenty20s just a day before the team left for India and he claimed that he was not taking it as a burden.
‘I think the word you have said burden, I don’t think it in that way. It is probably a great opportunity to lead my side,’ Mahmudullah told reporters in New Delhi in the pre-match press-conference.
‘I have done it few times in Tests and Twenty20s as Sakib was injured few times. But I think it’s a great opportunity to lead the team.
‘We have to play as a team. As a group, we need to collectively use our opportunities and be fully committed to it and execute our skills in the game,’ he added.
The 33-year old believed that the team has come out from the recent issue with Sakib and they were just concentrating on trying to win their first ever Twenty20 international match against India.
Bangladesh, who have played eight Twenty20 international matches against India, have never tasted victory against the neighbouring nation despite coming close on several occasions.
Mahmudullah also claimed that they were fully supporting Sakib even after his ICC ban but urged the young players to utilise Sakib’s absence during the series.
‘I think we all know that Sakib has been a great performer for Bangladesh cricket over the years. I think he is one of the main key players in our team. But having said that the issue that happened with Sakib, I think we still have the support for him,’ he said.
‘Probably he did a mistake but I think he didn’t commit a crime. But having said that we still have the support for him and have the same love that we used to have.
‘The issue has gone by and we are more focusing on playing tomorrow [today] and trying to win the game. Having said that it will be probably a good opportunity for younger players to show up and stand up for Bangladesh team,’ he added.
Mahmudullah also urged the batsmen to be more consistent and was hopeful that their performance would assist their experienced pace-bowling line-up.
‘We have to be much more consistent in our batting, probably putting up big scores in every now and then so that we can give enough runs and enough foundation to our bowlers to prove themselves…
‘If you see our fast bowler department, Al-Amin [Hossain], Mustafiz [Mustafizur Rahman] and Shafiul [Islam] are much more experienced. So we have a very good experienced bowling side. Having said it probably is a proper opportunity for us to show our performance in this tour,’ he added.
Source: New Age.