After Bangladesh's Champions Trophy campaign came to an end, pace bowling coach Andre Adams made his way home to Sydney, reuniting with his family after a long journey from Pakistan on 28 February. With time to reflect, the former New Zealand pacer spoke to The Daily Star's Samsul Arefin Khan, sharing his thoughts over the phone. From Bangladesh's performance in the tournament to the pacers' progress and the team's recurring struggles on the big stage, Adams offered candid insights. The following are excerpts from the interview:

The Daily Star (DS): How do you evaluate Bangladesh's performance in the Champions Trophy?

Andre Adams (AA): It was an average campaign, but I thought we showed some great signs with the ball. Particularly in the New Zealand game, we were bowling beautifully, but then we got a little too keen to take wickets. So the mentality is good -- the guys are hunting wickets.

We just need to find our best method. So I am really happy with how the bowling group is developing… Even though it didn't look successful, there are certainly signs from the tactical point of view and from the mental point of view.

DS: The fast bowlers started well but couldn't sustain it. Why?

AA: I think the guys got a bit too excited and tried to strike. We haven't been a consistent bowling attack, certainly not in the last couple of years… I also think the standard of cricket the boys came from Bangladesh with -- they were very dominant [in the Bangladesh Premier League]. So understanding what it takes to be dominant against world-class players is slightly different.

When you play in leagues around the world or domestic T20 leagues, you don't need to be as patient due to the nature of the game. When you play against teams like India, New Zealand, or Pakistan, you need a little bit of understanding of what is required. Having said that, I am pretty happy with the way the guys are moving forward. They are very keen to learn and get better. So it's very pleasant from my point of view.

DS: Do you think if the batting unit had showcased better performances, your fast bowling unit could have taken the team to the knockouts?

AA: Maybe. You don't know. There was a bit more of a flat wicket in Pakistan and a bit more challenging in Dubai. That was a very spin-friendly wicket. So I thought we bowled okay on those surfaces but not excellently. Runs are the most valuable currency at the international level. You can take wickets, but if you don't score runs, it doesn't matter which format you are playing -- it's very difficult. I think we are on the brink of cracking the ability to score 300-plus consistently.

DS: Why didn't Nahid Rana play against India?

AA: He was recovering from an ankle injury. Having said that, [Tanzim] Sakib has been excellent for us over the last 12 months, so he deserved his chance. Rana has the pace, and he is exciting, but he wasn't quite fit for the first game.

DS: Did playing continuously in the BPL lead to his injury?

AA: I'm not blaming anyone. He is a young bowler, and he also has to learn how far he can push himself. I also think there is too much press [coverage] surrounding Rana. He has been dropping in pace, and he might have been tired. That's what happens when you play regularly.

DS: Is Mustafizur Rahman an automatic choice, given he hasn't been in great form but still remains in the team?

AA: You always want a left-armer in your team. At the moment, Fizz is our go-to guy; our main death bowler, and he bowls slower balls really well. There are other left-arm bowlers like Shoriful, so the competition can be tough. And when it comes to selection, we want to put our best team on the park. You can't leave behind anyone who is improving and putting in 100 percent effort.

DS: Most pacers were already developed when you took over. What have you done differently?

AA: Nothing special (laughs)… I see my main job as helping them understand the game better. Every bowler is different, so you just can't give a blanket rule for everyone to follow the same approach.

DS: Having been part of Bangladesh's last two ICC campaigns, where do you think the Tigers fall short in global events?

AA: There will probably be only one team in an ICC event that doesn't leave with ifs and buts, and that will be the team that wins it… There is a lot of pressure on our guys, and that's the main difference between here and other coaching environments. What you guys see as a silly shot or a poor choice is not due to laziness. Sometimes, it's just being exhausted by pressure.

I think our main difference is mental skills; the understanding of how to apply yourself in the situation.