Senior Bangladesh players 'don't turn up' in ICC tournaments: Jaffer

The former India batter was particularly critical of Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim’s performances in Bangladesh’s five-wicket loss to New Zealand

Former India batsman Wasim Jaffer has pulled up Bangladesh’s experienced players for their continued underperformances in ICC tournaments following the Tigers' limp exit from the Champions Trophy.

Bangladesh's batting travails were once again on full display during a dismal campaign as the team could only rack up two underwhelming totals -- 228 all out and 236 for 9 -- against India and New Zealand in Group A, giving their bowlers little to work with.

Jaffer was particularly critical of Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim’s performances in Bangladesh’s five-wicket loss to New Zealand.

Both veterans played reckless shots and were dismissed early, leaving the team struggling at five down by the 27th over. New Zealand, in turn, chased down the target without breaking a sweat.

"We've only seen probably Shakib [Al Hasan] with that 2019 [ODI] World Cup where he was a standout player," Jaffer said on ESPNcricinfo's Match Day. "But I don't know if it's the pressure that gets to them or they put too much pressure on themselves, they just don't turn up."

Mahmudullah has an impressive track record in ICC tournaments, having scored back-to-back centuries in the 2015 ODI World Cup and another in Bangladesh’s famous win over New Zealand in the 2017 Champions Trophy. However, this time, he missed the first match due to injury and threw his wicket away cheaply in the second.

"Even the shot selection we've seen today was very disappointing," Jaffer said. "Mushfiq [Mushfiqur] playing that shot, Mahmudullah playing that wild shot. And this is a must-win game. You want them to step up in these kinds of games and make themselves count. So that's been the story in the ICC events, unfortunately."

Jaffer also pointed out that Bangladesh were at least "50 to 60 runs short" on a Rawalpindi pitch that wasn’t offering much assistance to the bowlers.

"They could have easily put 300-plus on that pitch," he said. "They have got themselves to blame. It is too much to ask from the bowling unit to get a team New Zealand all out for below 240."