To be very honest I'm not happy: Najmul Shanto

Despite leading Bangladesh from the front with consistent performances, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed dissatisfaction with his own display, despite contributing significantly in both matches. While he has struggled in Tests and T20Is, Shanto’s form in ODIs has been outstanding. In the first game in Sharjah, he missed a half-century by just 3 runs, but he made amends in the second match, scoring a crucial 76 runs.

However, even after his 76-run knock, Shanto still felt that a century was within reach and that he could have made his innings even bigger. His knock of 76 runs off 119 balls, although a slow one, was effective for the team, but Shanto was still not satisfied with his performance.

In the post-match interaction with the host, Shanto opened up about his feelings:

"To be honest, I am not happy. I need to bat a little longer. The wicket was tough, especially against the spinners. But the way I started my innings, I was happy with that," he said.

After a crushing 92-run defeat to Afghanistan in the first ODI, Bangladesh bounced back with a 68-run victory in the second match. The Tigers now have a chance to win the series with a victory in the final match. Shanto reflected on the team's performance, saying:

"I feel a little good, but there are still a few things to work on. We’ll have to wait for the next match. Honestly, I’m not completely happy. The wicket was tough against the spinners, so I probably needed to spend more time at the crease."

Shanto also praised the crucial contributions of two of Bangladesh’s spin bowlers, Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Nasum Ahmed, who provided timely breakthroughs to help Bangladesh secure the win. He also acknowledged the efforts of pacers Taskin Ahmed and Zakir Ali Anik.

"Miraz and Nasum, the way they bowled — credit goes to them. And Taskin, getting Gurbaz out with the new ball, was a key moment. He’s an important batter. The way they finished the game gave us momentum. That’s why I wanted Zakir in the middle order," Shanto explained.

With the series now tied 1-1, Bangladesh will look to Shanto and his team to secure the series win in the upcoming final ODI.