Bangladesh: Ashraful admits to bowling blunder
Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful admits the decision to play just one specialist fast bowler cost them dear in the opening one-day international against Pakistan, which they lost by 152 runs.
The Tigers started the day well by taking three Pakistan wickets for 70 inside 18 overs but then a partnership of 185 runs between skipper Shoaib Malik (85) and Mohammad Yousuf (108 not out) helped the hosts to a total of 322.
Fast bowler Mushrafe Mortaza (two for 52) and all-rounder Farhad Reza (two for 41) were inspiring for the Tigers with the new ball but their spinners failed to keep the Pakistan batsmen in check.
Their generous bowling was followed by another woeful batting performance as Bangladesh capitulated to 129 all out in 30 overs after the target was adjusted to 282 from 39 overs because of power cuts which prevented the floodlights from working.
However, Ashraful believes they would have had a better chance of containing Pakistan if they had another specialist seamer.
“We missed one seam bowler,” the 23-year-old skipper told www.tigercricket.com.
“Mortaza and Reza bowled well for us in the first 20 overs but after that we missed a bowler.”
Coach Jamie Siddons also admitted the approach, which worked well in the home series against Ireland last month, was a blunder.
“We tried it against Ireland but it backfired here,” he said.
Ashraful also responsible his batsmen for failing to capitalise on a batting-friendly Lahore pitch.
“We didn’t attach to our team rules and got out to rash shots. It is difficult chasing over 300 but we just didn’t bat well on a good batting wicket,” he added.
The second game in the five-match series will take place in Faisalabad on Friday.