Mushtaq Ahmed Analyzes Bangladesh's Performance After T20 Loss to Pakistan

Following the T20 match between Bangladesh and Pakistan, Bangladesh's spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed gave a candid assessment of the team's performance, player potential, and tactical approach in both batting and bowling. While he praised Pakistan, he also highlighted key areas where Bangladesh needs improvement.

Praise for Shadab Khan

One of the standout performers for Pakistan was all-rounder Shadab Khan. Mushtaq praised the seasoned cricketer, saying,
"Shadab is a very experienced player who has been around for years. His confidence is at its peak right now. When you perform with both bat and ball, that confidence only grows. He brought a lot of belief from the PSL."

Rishad Hossain Still Learning

Bangladesh's young leg-spinner Rishad Hossain impressed in the PSL but couldn't replicate the same success in national colors. Mushtaq acknowledged Rishad’s potential and learning curve:
"He's still in the learning phase and is gaining experience with every match. His future is bright. He needs to think more about field positioning. He still has the ability to be a match-winner."

On Towhid Hridoy’s Struggles

Towhid Hridoy failed to deliver a big innings while chasing over 200 runs, managing only 17 off 22 balls. Mushtaq commented,
"He couldn't find the momentum today. But he's a fantastic player and a game-changer. He's played some great innings before. I hope he learns from this pitch and understands what adjustments to make."

Credit to Pakistan, Lessons for Bangladesh

Mushtaq acknowledged Pakistan’s approach and emphasized learning from Bangladesh’s errors:
"Credit to Pakistan. They played proper cricketing shots and showed strong intent. Agha Salman batted brilliantly."

Absence of Taskin and Mustafizur Felt

He pointed out the absence of key pacers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman:
"Even without Taskin and Fizz, Shoriful gave us a good start. We need to learn from our mistakes. I believe we have the ability to come back strong."

On Captaincy and Bowling Choices

Mushtaq mentioned he hadn't yet spoken with the captain about not using the two frontline pacers for their full quota. On Shamim Patwari, who bowled for the first time and took a wicket, he said:
"The pitch was tacky early on, with some swing, but it got better later. Shamim bowled four overs and did really well. It was his first time bowling, and he could become a valuable sixth bowling option in the future."

Room for Growth and Recovery

Mushtaq concluded with optimism, saying that despite the defeat, Bangladesh still has the potential to bounce back. With improvements in spin, batting, and overall team strategy, the team can prepare better and turn things around.