Tigers ‘charged up’ to answer critics

After completing the qualifying round as the runners-up from Group B, courtesy of a record 84-run win over Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Thursday, Bangladesh, who are now placed in group 1 in the Super 12 stage, reached Dubai yesterday afternoon.

Despite qualifying for the Super 12 stage, there was some sort of unrest among the players in the Tigers' camp. The Bangladesh team faced heavy criticism after their shock six-run defeat against Scotland in their T20 World Cup opener. And skipper Mahmudullah Riyad did not hold himself back at expressing his grudge towards the media on Thursday after the thumping win against PNG ensured the Tigers' qualification to the Super 12s.

There were even uncertainties whether the Tigers would go on to qualify for the Super 12 after the defeat against Scotland.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan was furious after the defeat and his remarks regarding the commitment of the players along with negative comments on social media and news reports seem to have an adverse impact on the Bangladeshi players.

Mahmudullah had mentioned the fact that it is the players who have the highest commitment towards the Bangladesh team and the unhealthy criticism about the team after the defeat was unexpected from the players' point of view.

"Obviously, everything touches us. After all, we all are human and we also have feelings. Our parents and kids also sit in front of the TV sets and they also feel bad," said Mahmudullah after the win against PNG.

The current situation perhaps motivated the players even more to do something extraordinary in the flagship event and make a statement after all the criticism towards the Bangladesh team.

"We definitely want to do something extraordinary this time around. Yes, the defeat against Scotland came as a huge shock for us, and as a player representing the country, we felt bad. But the fact of the matter is that we always try to give our best. But at times it doesn't go in our favour," said a member of the Bangladesh team requesting anonymity

"But I think every single member of the team is now charged up which I think can work as a tonic for all of us going into the Super 12 stage. I don't know how far we can reach in this World Cup, but we have the urge to do something outstanding and prove everyone wrong," the player added.

Bangladesh are placed in Group 1 alongside Australia, South Africa, England, West Indies and Sri Lanka, who are set to join group 1 as champions from the group A qualifying stage.

The Tigers are expected to face Sri Lanka in their opening Super 12 game in Sharjah on Sunday and will train ahead of the game today.

Although the morale of the Bangladesh team is pretty high after a dominating win, it seems that the entire Tigers' camp is hiding their emotions and looking to answer all the criticisms through their performances in the flagship event.