Ashok Namboodiri
For a team that has completed 25 years in Test cricket, Bangladesh’s latest collapse against Pakistan in the Asia Cup was nothing short of a betrayal to its own fans. This wasn’t just another defeat; it was a surrender, a squandered opportunity that could have rewritten their regional cricketing narrative. What unfolded was an abject display of panic, indecision, and lack of temperament from a side that should by now have learned the hard lessons of international cricket.
The match was in Bangladesh’s grasp. The bowlers had done the hard work, pegging Pakistan back at crucial intervals, keeping the chase within reach. At the end of the 12th over, Pakistan was 55/5 and from there they managed to get to 135 in 20. Twenty runs too many, but the stage was perfectly set for the batters to show maturity, composure, and the resilience expected of a side with a quarter-century of Test experience. Instead, they imploded. Rash strokes, poor shot selection, and an utter inability to rotate strike made the collapse look inevitable rather than accidental. It was not about Pakistan’s bowling brilliance as much as it was about Bangladesh’s self-inflicted wounds.
Only Saif Hsaan showed some promise and intent. The rest of the batting was simply amateurish. Nurul Hassan kept moving outside the off stump to try and hoist the ball over mid-wicket while captain Jaker Ali kept moving away from leg and hitting towards off. None of the batters even attempted to read Abrar Ahmed and threw away their wickets with shots that a club side wouldn’t play.
This is the frustration that has long plagued Bangladesh cricket. The narrative has oscillated between flashes of brilliance and prolonged phases of inconsistency. Yes, there have been memorable wins …beating Australia in 2005, the rise of Shakib Al Hasan as a world-class all-rounder, and the spirited World Cup campaigns. But moments like the one against Pakistan remind us of the systemic issues that persist: a fragile batting order, a lack of mental toughness under pressure, and the inability to close out matches that matter.
At the heart of the problem is leadership on the field. When pressure mounts, Bangladesh’s batters tend to go back into a shell or lunge recklessly at deliveries that don’t warrant risk. There is rarely a calm head to steady the innings, to shepherd the chase in singles and twos, to resist the temptation of a rash sweep or lofted drive. It is a mental block that has haunted them for two decades, and here it was again on display in a continental tournament where pride and progress were at stake.
It underscores the reality that Bangladesh, despite producing some of the finest individual talents in world cricket, still hasn’t figured out how to win matches collectively when it matters. After a quarter century, excuses about inexperience no longer hold. This was not about skill; it was about character. And until Bangladesh’s batting learns the art of grinding out wins in tense moments, they will continue to carry the tag of underachievers — a team that promised much but too often faltered when it mattered.
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