WI Vs BAN, 2018: We Struggled to Capitalise on Easy Situations, Says Tamim Iqbal

Senior Bangladesh cricketer, Tamim Iqbal blamed themselves for their wretched performance in the two-match Test series against Windies while reiterating that they failed to cash in on easiest of the situations.

“What happened here, there’s nothing to explain,” Tamim told ESPNcricinfo.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh lost the series 2-0 as they struggled to bat for 50 overs in any of the innings during this tour.

Furthermore, the first Test lasted only seven sessions while the last one extended to nine sessions.

“We only have ourselves to blame. Our batting was not up to the mark. We were playing on difficult wickets but these were not unplayable. Even today, we weren’t going to make 330 or 340 but it was a really good wicket to bat on. If we could have been in the contest longer, it would have been an interesting game,” he added.

Tamim feels the problem is more mental than technical. Bangladesh lasted 88.1 overs in this game, after having batted for only 59 overs in Antigua.

Tamim said it was perhaps their biggest downfall not to bat longer and take advantage of lulls in a Test match.

“If we could have stretched the game longer, we could have cashed in. We all know there are difficult phases and easy periods in Test matches. We never gave ourselves that chance. The team got all out in less than 20 overs in the first innings in Antigua and here it was no different. We got bowled out in 40-45 overs,” he continued.

In conclusion, Tamim Iqbal also blamed himself for not delivering while being a senior-most campaigner in the Tigers squad.

“From a personal point of view, I would say three out of my four dismissals were very good deliveries. But having said that, I should have handled it differently. I am a senior cricketer from whom people expect runs,” he concluded.

Also read: The game of numbers from India’s perspective