Bangladesh feel proud after brave stand

Bangladesh almost stopped the unbeaten India team in the Asia Cup final at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday.

They produced a fine performance in this edition of the event, even ousting the strong Pakistan team.

Their skipper Mashrafe Mortaza feels that his players should be proud of their performance despite losing the final in the last ball of the tournament.

“The boys should feel proud,” Mortaza said.

“I think we have to learn so many things — we are struggling some way or the other in these tournaments.”

He said they made a good start against India, but couldn’t follow through.

“In the last few matches, we lost early wickets but managed to score 240250,” he said. “I think the bowlers did a good job in the tournament. We are proud but we have to move forward.”

Bangladesh performed brilliantly despite the absence of their key players to injuries. “I think they did a good job without two key members. Missing Shakib and Tamim was a big blow but I think boys have done a really good job.”

‘Can’t blame bowlers’

Mortaza did not consider the final defeat as a last-ball mishap.

“The last ball wasn’t the problem,” he said.

“We could have scored 280 or more than 300 easily had we capitalised on our start. We can’t blame the bowlers against a batting order like India. They could have easily chased it down. I will back my bowlers because they tried hard.”

Mortaza justified his decision of giving the last over to off spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah when India needed only six more runs to win off the six balls.

“I asked Mahmudullah if he was confident. He had the experience of bowling in these situations in the last over in BPL (Bangladesh Premier League),” he said.