Bangladesh are 3-0 up and have the T20I sequence of their bag, however a bit of their followers aren’t actually celebrating these outcomes. As an alternative, they’re dismissing them for coming towards Zimbabwe, a lower-ranked aspect. Additionally they have a principle that the BCB organises matches towards Zimbabwe each time the senior males’s aspect goes by means of a troublesome run of outcomes.
“Our targets are World Cup-oriented however we do not management what situations we play in or towards which opposition we play,” Taskin stated. “We have now to provide our greatest in all situations. If we will get into the World Cup with 5 or ten per cent enchancment, we will then begin effectively in that match. There’s quite a lot of speak about Zimbabwe as an opponent but when we lose towards them, there shall be quite a lot of different speak.
“We get much less credit score for profitable towards smaller groups. If we lose, they may mock us. Sadly, now we have to listen to quite a lot of issues. After we get out to play, our solely purpose is to provide our greatest. We wish to win the final two video games. We have now totally different particular person roles, which we attempt to execute. Outcomes fluctuate however we additionally wish to use these two matches to check out a few of our new abilities.”
Taskin has been considered one of Bangladesh’s most spectacular performers on this sequence up to now, taking six wickets in three video games at a median of 8.83 whereas returning an financial system charge of simply 4.41. Zimbabwe’s prime order has notably struggled towards him, with their batters wanting rushed for tempo. Taskin felt his rhythm was higher than it had been in the course of the BPL in January or the Sri Lanka sequence by which he performed the white-ball matches.
“I used to be fairly sore within the [2023] World Cup. I needed to do two-and-a-half months of rehab after which I began with the BPL this yr,” he stated. “I struggled with my rhythm in that match however it improved within the Sri Lanka sequence. Rhythm is an element for quick bowlers. It’s enhancing for me. I’m working onerous. The staff will anticipate me to bowl at excessive tempo. I’m bowling effectively, however I hope it will get higher quickly.”
Whereas the IPL, throughout the border in India, has witnessed a frenzy of six-hitting and tall totals, this sequence has been quite a bit much less high-scoring, with first-innings totals of 124, 138 and 165 within the three matches up to now. Taskin put it right down to situations, and steered that it could be unrealistic to anticipate huge scores in Dhaka as effectively.
“Situations are barely totally different between right here and the IPL,” he stated. “Many of the video games there are high-scoring. There are fewer high-scoring matches in Bangladesh. Even when we’re taking part in Zimbabwe, we’re giving our 100 per cent. They could be weaker than IPL groups however now we have to provide our greatest to beat them.”
Bangladesh’s top-order batters have not actually hit their stride, notably with Litton Das struggling for runs within the white-ball codecs this yr. Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali needed to rescue the aspect after they misplaced their first three wickets in 9 overs within the third T20I.
“Greater than anybody, we really feel most disenchanted after we do not do effectively with bat or ball,” Taskin stated. “We work onerous constantly to enhance our batting and bowling. We all know that we’ve not began with the bat in accordance with expectations. We’re engaged on it. I hope we will do higher in these two matches.”
Taskin was happy with Bangladesh’s subsequent batch of quick bowlers doing effectively in home cricket. Rejaur Rahman completed this season’s Dhaka Premier League with an eight-wicket haul, whereas left-arm quicks Abu Hider and Ruyel Miah completed as the highest two wicket-takers total. Taskin, who performed for eventual champions Abahani Restricted, took 16 wickets in eight matches at 15.37.
“It’s a nice signal that extra quick bowlers are coming into the scene in Bangladesh,” Taskin stated. “It’s an extra motivation in home cricket, to see the quick bowlers within the nationwide staff to be extra constant. If they’ll play some franchise cricket, there shall be extra enchancment. They’ve a greater course of. There’s extra seriousness in sustaining good way of life. It’s serving to quick bowlers in Bangladesh.”
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
