Tigers disappointed, Afghans proud

Bangladesh One Day International captain Tamim Iqbal was extremely disappointed after their seven-wicket defeat to Afghanistan in the third and final One-Day International of the series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram as this was the match he ‘really wanted’ to win.

On the other hand, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi was proud of his team’s performance after clinching a win after conceding the series.

Bangladesh had the chance to extend their lead at the top of the ICC World Cup Super League points table on Monday but failed as they produced a subpar performance to lose 10 crucial points.

Tamim said he wanted to win this match, but the loss extremely disappointed him.

“I am very disappointed. I have said it before that today’s match was the most important despite winning the series. Now, we don’t have the situation that winning the series is enough. Every match has value. I am very disappointed that we could not play our best game,” he said.

Despite being disappointed, Tamim was not ready to point fingers at anybody in the team. He said, “It’s part of my job to make sure that everyone is up and ready, to give their best. I cannot point fingers at anybody in my team they were not ready or was not in the mood to play. But this was one match that I really wanted to win.”

This is the second time Bangladesh have lost 10 points of the Super League after winning the series within a year. In May 2021, Bangladesh lost to Sri Lanka in the third match after sealing the series in the second.

“I am disappointed because you can never predict the future. We will have to play in South Africa and Ireland and play against England (at home). Nothing is guaranteed. So, when you have the chance, you must take full advantage of it,” Tamim said about losing points.

The Bangladesh skipper also explained his goal to qualify for the World Cup by finishing in the top four, which was heavily hampered with this defeat.

“If we win a couple of matches, we will probably qualify for the World Cup. But that’s not my target. My personal target is that Bangladesh should finish in the top four.

“Because if you want to claim that you have come here to win the World Cup in 2023 if you qualify as the seventh or eighth team, it does not make sense. When you finish in the top four, it does,” he said.

On the other hand, Afghan skipper Shahidi was happy they could clinch 10 vital points in their quest for qualifying for the 2023 World Cup in India.

“The way the boys played today, I am very proud of them. For us, all of these three games were important. All of the matches were about 10 points.

“I was disappointed after the first two matches, but that happens in cricket. We have got these 10 points, which will make it easier for us in the future. It was important, and I am happy the way we got it,” the Afghan skipper said in the post-match press conference on Monday.

Both teams will now travel to Dhaka ahead of the two-match Twenty20 Internationals series, which will be played on March 3 and 5.