Bangladesh pace bowler Taskin Ahmed admitted on Friday that the pressure in on them rather than their opponents as they prepare to take on Netherlands in their crucial ICC World Cup game, scheduled at the Eden Gardens on Saturday.
Bangladesh are going through a tough period in the ongoing ICC World Cup as they lost their last four games after winning the opening game against Afghanistan and a further loss to Netherlands will be a huge blow considering they are expected to win against the associate nations.
However, their present performance in the global tournament does not guarantee that it will an easy cake walk more so after Netherlands brought down high-flying South Africa in the tournament earlier and coupled by the fact that are drowned by the expectations, it will be even more difficult for Shakib and co who are eagerly looking to change their fortunes.
"Look if we lose the match everything is tricky but definitely in this kind of match the pressure is much more because of the expectation because everyone feels that we have to win," Taskin told reporters ahead of game against Netherlands at the Eden Gardens on Friday.
"We want to win every game and the thing is that we have to win by following a process and doing the right thing. We should focus on the next match and if we can win I think we should go match by match and if we can play our best cricket we will be able to win," he said adding that he doesn't feel everything is over for them.
"It's not finished yet (hope of reaching the semi-final). Still four more games to go. If we can win those four, anything can happen because there are some run rates issues and also like a lot of teams like England. Afghanistan beat England they lost against Sri Lanka.
"So, if we can win four there will be a different story maybe but at the moment we are planning to go match by match. Yes, we didn't play well enough as we expected from both units, batting, and bowling, but four games to go. So, we are looking forward to do well," he said.
"Our fielding was pretty good so far in this tournament but batting and bowling I think as we expected we haven't done enough well so there are a lot more improvements. But also, we know also that we are better than that. And we are capable. But yeah, we haven't done great. So, hoping to do well in the next four matches," he said.
Taskin, who joined the nets on Thursday after having a break to recover from his shoulder injury, said that he will have to manage his shoulder and play. Bangladesh received a huge blow earlier when Taskin missed the game against India and South Africa as a result of his recurring shoulder injury.
Taskin sustained the shoulder injury during their tour of South Africa in 2022, when he failed to complete the opening Test and it was advised that he needs an operation but the team management opted not to go for the surgery, with an eye on the 2022 T20 World Cup.