Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan urged his teammates to guard themselves against complacency as they still have 10 valuable points to gain despite clinching the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. Bangladesh earlier had paid the price of taking their opponents lightly when they lost 10 points against Sri Lanka at home after winning the opening two games. Against Afghanistan, though, Bangladesh won the first game by four wickets and clinched the series with an 88-run win in the second, but with the ICC Super League points at stake, they have no reason to be relaxed as every point in the bilateral series is important.
“As the series is the part of ICC ODI Super League, we all know every point is now important whatever the scoreline of the series is and so we need 10 points that are on the cards now,” Mehidy said at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Monday (February 27). “When a series is won, there is something like that at the back of the mind (like being a bit relaxed) but more important than the series win is the 10 available points and so there is no chance to stay relaxed.”
Bangladesh is at the top of the ICC Super League points table with 100 points but still, there is a long way to go. They will be bracing themselves for the tough upcoming series’ against South Africa, Ireland, and England with the first two assignments away from home, before hosting England. Mehidy also said that the younger players should contribute more as he feels that will help ease the burden of the seniors, who are yet to shine despite being the major source of strength for the last 10 years. Afif Hossain and Mehidy starred in the opening game, while Liton Das came good in the second, scoring a hundred in addition to Mushfiqur’s 87.
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“The seniors always want the juniors to perform well, which will help the team. They always back us up, talk to us. Liton, Mustafiz (Mustafizur Rahman), and I have been around for the last five-six years. So we have a bit of experience. We want to use it to play good cricket. When we had the opportunity, we tried to put together a partnership by playing normally. When it became a big partnership, we started to think about winning the game. Grabbing this opportunity is going to help us in the future.
“We learned from the seniors who have brought big achievements to the country. They have helped Bangladesh take the next step. They have won Bangladesh many matches. When they were doing it, we (the junior members) would think that whenever we get the opportunity we will get the team to that stage too. We had that confidence when we were out there. When we reached our half-centuries, we told each other that if we can’t win the game this fifty would have no value. If we can win the game, it will be an achievement,” he said, adding that he is aware that if he is unable to perform someone else will take his place.
”You get to play for the national team on the back of performance. We may be young in terms of age but being senior or junior shouldn’t be an excuse. Someone else will take my place if I am not performing. Sooner I can settle myself in international cricket, I can have a long career at this level,” he concluded.
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