ESPNCricinfo
Tamim Iqbal wants Bangladesh to keep their eyes on the ball, both literally and figuratively, in their bid to turn a corner halfway through a dismal year. His biggest worry is the side’s fielding ahead of their ODI series against Sri Lanka, which is viewed as a must-win assignment with qualification for the 2023 World Cup in mind. Iqbal, who has shown great form of late with three fifties in four Test innings in Sri Lanka last month, wants his team to grab the small and often crucial opportunities that come their way.
Iqbal said Bangladesh are working hard on all aspects including fielding, but they have been unable to convert that productiveness into consistently converting the chances they get on their field.
“This is probably the one part that I am worried the most,” Iqbal told ESPNcricinfo.
“If you have seen us in the last five months, fielding is the area, more than batting and bowling, where we have lost matches. The two Tests at home or the second ODI in New Zealand, the key moments were [related to] the fielding. Everybody sees what we are doing on game day but hardly anyone sees what we are doing in training. I think we are training extremely hard to get better.
“Each and every one of us wants to get better but we are making those mistakes in the key moments. Just like every other team, I feel that not all our fielders are brilliant fielders. But we have good fielders. We just have to make sure that according to our capability, whoever is fielding in those positions, do their best. They take those chances. They take a brilliant catch, get a brilliant run-out. If we start doing that, it will help us more with winning games.”
Looking back through the winless streak, Iqbal felt Bangladesh hadn’t been able too keep their shape in crunch moments with both bat and ball.
“We had opportunities to win in most of these ten matches,” he said.
“There were times when we were on top, but we made some mistakes which is why we lost the games.
“We were competitive, but now we have to grab those key moments, which decides the match. It can be a spell, a partnership or a catch. We have to be very focused when the key moment comes. We don't want to miss those chances.”
Iqbal said there is hunger within the ranks, but the bottom line is about winning in international sport. "If you are not winning, [the dressing room] is not a happy place. But everybody is doing the extra yard. They want to win games.
“We can talk about the process and the future, but at the end of the day, winning is probably the most important thing. Our passionate supporters want us to do well, so winning is the best gift to give back to them.”
Iqbal was made the ODI captain shortly before Bangladesh went into lockdown last year. He took over following the long and successful reign of MashrafeMortaza, who won 50 of his 88 ODIs as captain.
