‘Mashrafe changed the atmosphere’

Bangladesh had a memorable tour of the West Indies as after having lost the Test series disappointingly, they made a remarkable comeback by clinching the ODI and T20 series.

Star batsman Tamim Iqbal once again spoke of the way captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza inspired the dejected players during the team's dire moments. The ODI captain joined the squad following their Test series debacle and tried to overturn the negativity that was swirling in and around the dressing room.

"Naturally we were very down after the Test series. The ODI series was very important since this was one of those formats where we are most comfortable. Then Mashrafe Bhai came.

"He had a huge contribution in our comeback. Maybe he did not hold someone's hand and bat or bowl for them but I think he helped change the team's atmosphere.

"After a bad Test series, normally there is a lot of negativity within the team and the players do not have a clear mindset.

"The positive vibe he brought along transmitted to all of us and that was a big factor," Tamim Iqbal said.

It was a tale of comebacks for the Tigers throughout the ODI and T20 series. Having won the first ODI due to Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim firing with the bat and Mashrafe picking up four wickets, Tigers wanted to clinch the series at Guyana in conditions which favoured them. But they lost the second ODI at Guyana by a fine margin of only three runs. Tamim said that Mashrafe was crucial to turning things around again.

"We wanted to win the first two ODIs and clinch the series because Guyana suited us more owing to the wicket and the big ground. St. Kitts on the other hand favoured them more. As I said, Mashrafe bhai had a big input there as well.

"We sat down and discussed prior to the third ODI. If we had thought before the match that they have the advantage and are the favourites then we would lose even before the match.

"So this mindset had to be changed and we wanted to play the match and see what happens instead of thinking negatively," he said.

Tamim himself was in tremendous form in the ODI series, hitting 287 runs in three matches with two tons and a half century. He reiterated that the first ODI had put them on the right track since they had to struggle a lot.

"The way we played the first ODI on a difficult wicket, not throwing our wickets away even as we struggled, paid off in the end. Following the win in the first ODI, we carried on with more confidence.

"The way we came back to win the ODI and T20 series after the disastrous Test series was something special."