Bangladesh captain Mashrafe relies on bowlers for victory in T20s against South Africa

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza believes his bowlers will have to play a key role if the hosts are to win against South Africa in the T20s.

The teams will square off in the first of the two-match T20 series at 1pm local time at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.
 
Despite having Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman in the batting line up against the Proteas side, the Tigers’ limited-overs captain puts his faith on the bowlers.
 
In the ODI series against India last month, Mashrafe and his men scored 307 in the first match and went on to beat their neighbours by 79 runs.
 
"I still feel that bowlers will help us win the game. Against India in the first match, we scored 307. Our batsmen did well, but then our bowlers were outstanding,” Mashrafe said at a press briefing on Saturday.
 
“I think our batting strength is really good, but I still think that our bowlers can win the match for us.
 
“It becomes difficult for us if a team scores 200 (in T20s). But if we can restrict them within 150-160, the batsmen will have a chance,” he added.
 
Bangladesh have a less than impressive record in T20Is, but memories of their last match in the shortest format give the captain hope.
 
“I don’t think the record matters. We have to start well on that particular day and then finish well.
 
“Yes, record wise we are in a bad situation. But that is a thing of the past, now we are playing well as a team.
 
“In the last T20 match we played, against Pakistan, we did well. The only option that we have is to play confidently.”
 
The hosts put up a fine all-round show to beat Pakistan by seven wickets in their last match in April.
 
Shakib and Sabbir recovered from a top order collapse and shut Pakistan down with a century stand after the bowlers had laid the groundwork for the win.
 
“The way we have been playing for the last few months, we will try to hold that confidence and momentum. We have to start well on that particular day and then finish well.”
 
Bangladesh have Rubel Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman in their pace battery in the T20 series while Shakib will lead a strong spin attack comprising Jubair Hossain, Sohag Gazi and Nasir Hossain.
 
Several South African players, including AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, regularly play T20 leagues around the world.
 
For Bangladesh, Shakib is the only one who plays overseas T20 leagues.
 
“We have just one experienced T20 player but they have so many. They have players who haven’t debuted (in the national team) but played in leagues all over the world,” Mashrafe said.
 
There has been no domestic 20-over tournament in Bangladesh for a while.
 
The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) was arranged in 2012 and 2013 but it was shut down following a match-fixing scandal.
 
The Tigers’ opponents, however, are one of the most successful teams in 20-over games.
 
“We don’t have a good record in T20s, we rarely play T20s. But that is just statistics. Let’s see what happens on the field.”