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Published : 09 Mar 2014, 07:52 PM
“Our first objective is obviously to proceed to the second round. The first match against Afghanistan is very crucial. We are fixed on that match. We will avenge our Asia Cup defeat by beating them,” he said in an official press conference of the T20 World Cup at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.
Bangladesh will face Afghanistan in the tournament opener in that very ground on March 16. The other two opponents of Bangladesh in group A are Nepal and Hong Kong.
“We have two other matches, against Nepal and Hong Kong. I hope we will move on to the next, winning all three matches,” he added.
Mushfiq believes that Bangladesh, in terms of strength, have better chances despite their 32-run loss against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup.
“Difference in strength matters little in T20 cricket. It is important to give it our best on our day. A bowler or batsman can change the scenario.”
Mushfiq brushed aside thoughts of failure in the Asia Cup and acknowledged his view on their chances in tactical terms.
“We have played against them recently. We know their abilities. Shakib, Tamim, Mashrafe didn’t play in that match. So, they don’t have any idea of our full force. And I firmly believe, We can overcome any pressure this time.”
Back behind the stumps
The Bangladesh skipper had hurt the little finger of his left hand in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Chittagong last month.
He sat out the two-match T20 series against Sri Lanka.
Since then, although he participated in the three-match ODI series and Asia Cup, he did not put on his keeping gloves in those matches.
“I have done another scan. The doctors had told me that I’ll be able to keep wickets after four weeks. The pain is a bit less now. I’ll start keeping from tomorrow. I hope that I will be able to keep the wickets in the match against Afghanistan,” he said.
Tamim Iqbal had been out of the squad since the ODI series against Sri Lanka because of a strained neck. The left-handed opener, returning from treatment in Singapore, is almost fit at the moment.
Mashrafe Mortaza, on the other hand, has been ruled out of the Asia Cup because of his knee injury. Shohag Gazi has also been kept out due to injury caused up in the Asia Cup match against Afghanistan.
“I hope everybody will be fit. Tamim and Mashrafe are training. Gazi’s stitches have been removed. I hope he will join training from tomorrow.”
Promises of better performance
The Bangladesh captain-cum-keeper is confident that the Tigers will perform well in the upcoming world event.
“We didn’t have results up to our expectation in recent times. So we are keen to work harder and play well. Everyone is set to perform well in this tournament,” he said.
“We haven’t played too many T20 matches. So it is difficult for us to be consistent in the format. But we’ve played a number of T20s in this season. Our players have played well in those matches and we also did well as a team.
Mushfiq is aware that mistakes are a huge threat in T20 cricket, more so than ODIs. He asked his fellow teammates to minimize their blunders in this shortest form of the game.
The top-scoring captain of Bangladesh sees the T20 World Cup as a stage for the Bangladesh cricketers to retrieve their rhythm.
“I am hoping for contribution from everyone in the tournament. It is a huge stage for us. Our objective will be to play attacking cricket in all 40 overs of a match.”
