19 October - Pune - Bangladesh Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto post-match press conference

[Reporter:]
Shanto, it was completely a one-sided match today. Everybody has seen that you couldn't fight at all but how was your preparation to play this match? I mean, did you have a preparation for this match? Because except for the opening partnership, nothing good has been found in the match, there was no flow in the match.

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
The preparation was very good, to be very honest. The place where we were struggling, was being good at the top order. The opening was good. But I think those two set batsmen should have been played longer. Because the wicket was such that if one batsman had played 120-130 innings, then it would have been a bit easier for the lower-order batsmen.

[Reporter:]
After an opening partnership – you collapsed very fast.

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
Yes, I think we couldn't bat well in the middle overs. But what I feel, I think one of our opening batsmen, if he bat a bit longer, it would have different ball game. So, I think the openers should have bat a bit longer.

[Reporter:]

Do you see the bowlers are also responsible for this that they couldn't fight back or was it because the score was low, that's why it happened like this?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
I don't see any fault of bowlers here. I think bowlers are bowling very well. Still, there are places for improvement. But I think if batsmen could add a bit more runs on the board then it would be a little easy for them.

[Reporter:]
Shanto, how Shakib's absence was felt today, and do you feel that your batting was much needed today?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]

Shakib is definitely a very important player. Of course, we missed him, but Nasum also bowled very well. I think he bowled very well 6-7 overs at the beginning and I think it is the responsibility of every batsman to score runs for the team. Of course, the position I bat in is very important because the number 3 position is important. The last 2-3 matches are over. We have to focus on the upcoming matches.

[Reporter:]

Shanto, I want to ask two things together. One is about Tanzid Hasan Tamim's batting, I mean, he couldn't score runs for the last 7 innings after debut. Today, he played a good innings and made 51. The second question is when Virat Kohli was moving toward 100 runs, the way they were going towards the target with the required run-rate
did you give any instructions to the bowlers to do wide balls?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]

Instructions for what?

[Reporter:]
For bowling wide ball.

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
No, no. There was no such plan. It was a normal plan. No bowler had the intention to bowl wide ball. We tried to play a proper game. What was the other one? Tamim batted very well. I think it didn't go well for him for the last few innings but the way he batted today was very good. But the team expects a bigger innings from him. So, I hope he will play a bigger innings in the future if the opportunity comes.

[Reporter:]
In the second power play of 30 overs, you lost 5 wickets for 136 runs. So, what do you attribute this to good Indian bowling or bad batting?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
I think a couple of wickets very soft, soft dismissal, I would say wicket was good, we didn't take responsibility as a batsman.

[Reporter:]
India chased in their last three matches and have a very strong record chasing in general. What was the thought to batting first? And do you think it was like a comfort zone for India that you could have maybe avoided?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
No, I think the way we start our batting, I think it's best to start for us, like 80-90 runs partnership. But what I feel like in the middle overs we couldn't bat well.

[Reporter:]
When did you know you had to lead the team? This is the first question and the second question is, Tanzid Tamim was sent to play four matches consecutively in the opening, at last, he scored big runs. If someone is backed, is it the right process for the batting?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
For the captaincy, when Shakib got injured, I had the idea that I may have to do it. So, I was ready. I think every batsman or player should be backed like this. Not 50-50, but 100% they should be backed. Tamim played a good innings today. But, the team expects more from him. So, I think if everyone supports like this, he can play big innings.

[Reporter:]
Hey, Najmul, tough luck today. So, Bangladesh have changed their batting order a lot. Someone like Tawhid Hridoy in his young career If everyone supports each other, it is possible to play big innings. Do you think that has somehow hampered the batting style of all the batters in some way or the other?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
Yes, but everyone knows their batting position. Everyone is comfortable with that. But I think if everyone knows about their plan, there is no difference.

[Reporter:]
We saw that the regular captain Shakib Al Hasan was on the ground. What exactly he said before playing such a big match? You have seen the height of the match. India's match and a match for Bangladesh to come back to the game. What did the captain say?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
The captain shared his experience and suggestions from the beginning. In between when we were batting he gave different suggestions. And from the beginning, we had the belief that we can do something good. So he supported us in that way.

[Reporter:]
What expectations do you have from this World Cup? You scored 250 runs, you were all out for few runs, and you lost matches consecutively. What are you expecting from the rest of the matches?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
I will definitely look to win in the next matches. Still, I think we haven't been able to play our best match, especially on the batting part. I think the batsmen will try to bat with responsibility in the upcoming matches. I think there is still a lot to be done.

[Reporter:]
The last attempted wide to Kohli, was it actually discussed within the group or was it purely the bowler's decision?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
No, no, no. It wasn't intentional. So, we wanted to play a proper game, so it was not intentional.

[Reporter:]
As you said, there were some soft dismissals, we saw that it also happened before whether it's Shakib Al Hasan or Litton, you have given wickets in the last match also. As you're saying we have to develop and improve our skills, it's happening for a long time. Litton has already played for 7 years, you have also played for 6-7 years. Actually, what is the way? We're hearing this always that you have to be developed but such dismissals are happening again and again. What are you doing about this or what could be the way?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]

First of all, I think we should play and practice on a good wicket, on such a sporting wicket. We have relatively little of this practice/experience. I think the mental aspect is more important than the skill. We should take on the responsibilities. Because everyone has the skills to play such bowlers. So, if we are concerned about this, I don't think we will make the same mistakes.

[Reporter:]
Shanto, when did you finally know or when finally it was decided that Shakib will not play and you will be the captain? I mean, at what point that decision came?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
It was last night.

[Reporter:]
What is the update about Shakib? I mean, what is his present condition? Because we couldn't know anything officially till now.

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
He is recovering and he is in good condition. We didn't want to take a risk in today's match since we have 5 more matches to go. So, he's in a good state and he's a lot better and there is improvement. So, we hope that maybe he will play in the next match.

[Reporter:]
I have another question. When you started well today, was it necessary to call Miraz as number 4? Because earlier, the team director, Khaled Mahmud Sujon, said that we have called Miraz on the top order because we weren't starting well. We were losing early wickets. Today, the start was good. So, could Mushi (Mushfiqur) have been better for that position? Who or when was this decision made?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
I think it was right in this position because Hridoy is comfortable batting at 5 all the time. He batted at 5. Mushfiqur Rahim is scoring runs consistently at number 6. So, Mushi was at 6 and Mahmudullah Riyad also batted well at 7 in an innings earlier. So, I think if Shakib was playing, he would have been batting at 4. But I think the batting order was right today.

[Reporter:]
Shanto, I have two questions. First, although there are still 5 matches left, but the way Bangladesh played in the last three matches, you have come to the World Cup with a goal. In this situation, after three massive losses, how much do you see the realistic possibility of reaching that target? That is number one. Number two is, as you said, Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Litton's innings should have been big. We have seen in the past that the innings are like this, 50-70, not a big one from there. The current trend of one-day cricket in different teams is that batsmen are criticized even after making a century, and they are criticized in the team. Do we have such practice in our team? That not making the score big after playing such innings, but they got out, they don't make it big (score). Is there a practice of discussing this or criticizing them within the team?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
I forgot both questions, let me answer the second question. As you said, no batsman is happy with 50, 70, 80, or 100 runs and the coaching staff are not happy either unless that helps the team. Every batsman knows about this. And every batsman speaks about this. And I am sure Tanzid Tamim, and Litton are not happy with today's innings. Because what we see in the case of the big teams is they play to make it as 120, 130-150 runs innings. Everyone is worried and everyone is working on it. What was the other one?

[Reporter:]
The first question is, after three losses, you have come to the World Cup with a goal. Is it realistic now?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
It is important that we play a good match in the next match. Because a good match will change the momentum. We still have five matches left. No one knows that we can win four or five matches. So. we'll try to win every match but it is important to know how well we can play the next match and how we can win the match.

[Reporter:]
Shanto, you started off well on a good batting surface, then you just scored around 250. Is this our capability to make 250 against a tough opponent on such a good wicket? Is it our maximum capability?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
We have had big runs before, but I think we are not taking the responsibility. I would say for those who are getting set here, from them if Litton or Tamim could have played 120-130 runs inning, it would have been easier for Mushi, Hridoy, or Riyad. The middle order didn't bat well, as well as those who were set couldn't make runs.

[Reporter:]
Shanto, although you have said this, I want to know something specifically. When Miraz came in as a top order, he was actually called a makeshift (that he came as a makeshift batsman). Now that he's performed well, what do you think? Is the team considering him as a permanent top-order batter or is he still being called a lower-order batsman?

[Najmul Hossain Shanto:]
The team has eight total batsmen. So, I think Shakib couldn't play today. So, as I said everyone is batting at their respective places. Maybe if Shakib plays, it will be different.