Bangladesh Faces Performance Issues Despite Hard Work

After more than 144 overs of fielding over the past two days, Bangladesh's players entered the batting phase only to face a disastrous collapse. Saadman Islam fell to Kagiso Rabada in the opening over, and Zakir Hasan managed just 2 runs. With Mahmudul Hasan Joy's dismissal, Bangladesh found itself at 29 runs with three wickets down. The intense heat of Chittagong raised questions about whether fatigue from two consecutive days of fielding contributed to their struggles.

However, Bangladesh's spin bowling coach, Mushtaq Ahmed, believes that professional players should not exhibit signs of fatigue. Despite the quick loss of four wickets, he does not view it as a major crisis. Mushtaq emphasized the importance of fighting back and maintaining belief in their abilities.

Addressing the players' fatigue from two days of fielding, Mushtaq stated, “A little tiredness is possible, but it shouldn’t be the case. As a professional team, that mindset isn’t acceptable. You must bat professionally and work as hard as possible. Losing four wickets isn’t a disaster. No matter the situation, you need to fight and hold onto your belief.”

When asked about the confidence levels of the players in Test cricket, he responded, “I don’t think their confidence is low. If I’m honest, there may be a lack in following processes. It’s about understanding the situation. I would also mention game awareness—knowing when to leave a ball and when to play cautiously for a few overs. I don’t see a lack of confidence. The quicker they grasp the situation, the more they will learn.”

Regarding the disparity between their practice efforts and match performance, Mushtaq compared it to nurturing a plant: “Can you grow a tree in one day? You must water it and believe it will grow. As a gardener, that’s our job. As coaches, we do the same. You can’t expect to grow a tree overnight. One day, sooner or later, it will provide shade and fruit.”

Mushtaq's insights highlight the need for patience and persistence as Bangladesh looks to improve its performance moving forward.