‘Under pressure, we panic’

Bangladesh suffered with the ball in both their matches in the Asia Cup, and their pacer Hasan Mahmud believes that when under pressure, the Tigers’ bowlers panic and forget their skills.

In their first match of the Asia Cup, Bangladesh had 63 to defend in the final six overs of their match against Afghanistan. They went on to concede that in 4.3 overs.

In their do-or-die clash against Sri Lanka, the eventual Champions, the Tigers had 43 to defend in the last four overs, and they went on to lose within 20 deliveries.

Mahmud, who missed the Asia Cup due to an ankle injury, said that the problems at the death were due to them panicking in tough situations.

“When we are in pressure situations, we probably panic or forget our skills. We have to continue to execute our skills. We have to learn that. If we can, then we can bowl yorkers regularly,” he told the media on Saturday.

The young pacer said they had to be confident, “Everybody has to be confident that we can do it. We will definitely work on it (death bowling) in the future.”

Since his debut for the national team in 2020, Mahmud’s career has been marred with injuries. The pacer said that it was challenging, but injuries were like a friend for pacers.

“Of course, it’s challenging (to return from injuries). For fast bowlers, injuries are like a friend, they come, and then they go. But you have to keep working. You have to be consistent with your fitness and bowling work. When you keep doing that, it won’t then happen (regular injuries),” the 22-year-old said.

The pacer said he was confident ahead of the World Cup in Australia.

“Since the Zimbabwe series, I am very confident. As I have been picked for the World Cup squad, I want to give my best,” Mahmud added.