We have never played like this before: Shakib

It was not what was expected from a newly-built team, but the Tigers pulled off the unlikely feat of a 3-0 T20I series clean sweep against T20I world champions England with a 16-run victory at Mirpur in the third and final match yesterday.

Having lost the ODI series, which Tigers were expected to be competitive in, the new faces in the T20I team gelled quickly and appeared to find the right tempo against the world champions. The key had been the trust placed on the new players by the skipper, which translated to dynamism on the field.

When the team was training at Chattogram for the very first T20I, it became apparent that Shakib was himself more invigorated to prove a point with a young side. He had been handed the T20I captaincy last year and said that the process began with last that year's Asia Cup.

T20I series wins against Australia and New Zealand had come with much reliance on home conditions but there was a lot more skill needed to win against England this time around. Shakib did not want to compare.

"I don't like to compare between series. Winning every match is important but the way we won this series… we haven't played like this before. Winning with this approach satisfies the whole team. We started playing this way from the Asia Cup, so it took a bit of time to start getting the right results. But it has started," Shakib said at the press conference yesterday.

There had been a number of changes to the side that had played the Asia Cup last year. Veterans Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad are no longer there while the likes of Mosaddek Hossain and Mahedi Hasan made way. The BPL finishing just ahead of the England series helped Shakib and the team management find a fresh outlook to the team.

Rony Talukdar managed starts in all three T20Is and put on a 55-run stand with Liton yesterday. Towhid Hridoy also showed promise during the chase of 156 in the first T20I at Chattogram. Najmul Hossain Shanto scored runs in each of the three T20Is and translated his BPL form onto the international stage.

"Everyone in this team performed in this year's BPL. It wasn't too long before the England tour. The top five-six batters in this series were also the top run-getters in BPL. It is the same for the highest wicket-takers. The confidence did carry over and I think that really helped us," Shakib said.

Tanvir Islam, who was the joint highest wicket-taker in the BPL alongside with Hasan Mahmud, made his international debut against England yesterday.

Although it may appear to be a newly-built team, Shakib reminded that domestic performances from these players were trusted. "It might seem like this is a new team, but these players have been doing well in domestic cricket. We trust them. The way they started, it didn't seem like they were in an alien situation. They know. They are matured. It was a big plus for us," he said.

Liton’s career-best T20I score of 73 off 57 deliveries and a brilliant piece of fielding from Mehedi Hasan Miraz were some of the highlights of the Tigers’ 16-run victory yesterday that helped the hosts complete a series sweep over reigning white-ball champions. PHOTO: FIROZ AHMED

Fielding had been another key aspect of this team. England were strolling through the chase before Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler fell in back-to-back deliveries, with Buttler's run out inflicted by a brilliant direct hit from Mehedi Hasan Miraz. Such feats on the field added a different dimension to the unit.

"Everyone noticed our fielding in these three matches. We out-fielded England, who are themselves a good fielding side. It is a big tick mark," Shakib said. "Our target is to become the best fielding side in Asia. After this performance, I don't think we are too far behind."