We Couldn’t Withstand Their Batting Onslaught: Mashrafe Mortaza

Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza conceded that his team failed to deal with the pressure of their opponent’s onslaught.

Pakistan players celebrate after Sharjeel Khan took a catch to dismiss Bangladesh’s Mashrafe Mortaza. (Photo: AP)

Bangladesh crumbled to Pakistan’s relentless assault in their inaugural World T20 cricket match at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday. Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza conceded that his team failed to deal with the pressure of their opponent’s batting onslaught.

Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza (right) with Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi.  (Photo: AP)

We couldn’t get hold of the match right from the beginning and were not able to soak up the pressure when their batsmen were attacking. We couldn’t execute ourselves properly. 

<b>Mashrafe Mortaza</b>

Crediting Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez for taking the game away, Mortaza said:

The team did not have a negative outlook, but we couldn’t tackle them when their batsmen were attacking us in the first six overs. We were positive, but couldn’t stand up against their batting onslaught

<b>Mashrafe Mortaza</b>

Mohammad Hafeez, after scoring his half century. (Photo: AP)

Moratza also admitted his team had erred in reading the Eden pitch.

The wicket was good and if we could have restricted them to 160-170 runs, things could have been different. The wicket appeared a grassy and we thought the ball would hold up a bit. But our judgement turned out to be totally wrong

<b>Mashrafe Mortaza</b>

The Bangladeshi skipper also rued the absence of pacer Mustafizur Rahman.

Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman. (Photo: AP)

Mustafizur is our best bowler at the moment and desperately wanted him to play in this match but couldn’t as he is not fit. We are hopeful of getting him in the next match

<b>Mashrafe Mortaza</b>

Gearing up for the upcoming matches, Mortaza seemed confident.

We have to do well in the next matches as our opponents will be strong. We are not looking too far and taking one match at a time. Every match is important for us because we are in a tough group with challenging opponents

<b>Mashrafe Mortaza</b>