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.
Despite discussions about the slow and low nature of the Mirpur surface and how much the Tigers would rely on home conditions as they looked to undo England prior to the start of the three-match T20I series, it was a breath of fresh air to witness the impact of the pace-bowling unit as Bangladesh sealed a maiden whitewash series win against the reigning white-ball world champions.
"To finish the way we did today will leave a bit of a sour taste in our mouths but it also should act as an eye-opener for us on where we need to improve," Mott said.
Having securing the three-match T20I series against world champions England with a game in hand, Bangladesh will be eyeing yet another historic milestone as they attempt to whitewash England when the two sides lock horns in the third and final T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz delivered with bat and ball as Bangladesh stunned world champions England by four wickets in a second successive upset to clinch the three-match Twenty20 series with a game to spare in Mirpur on Sunday
The series has been clinched and a statement has been served that this new Bangladesh outfit can go forward with their approach in this series. However, wins at home have often been a double-edged sword
Following a memorable six-wicket win over England in the first T20I on a sporting wicket in Chattogram last week, there remains a lot of focus on the nature of the Mirpur’s surface on which the second T20I is set to be played today.
“This is a great start in order to make a good team for WC in 2024 in the West Indies. We will be able to put out a very good team when the World Cup starts,” Shakib said during the post-match presentation ceremony.
England were looking forward to a challenge but for newly-arrived Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, it will be the first step on a journey to the 2024 World Cup in the West Indies and USA.
The T20I side has a couple of new faces while some have returned the side after a while and head coach Chandika Hathurusingha said that the young team is helping the side get better in an area that he wants the team to excel in, especially in the T20I format.
Shakib was in a vibrant mood himself, joking with the batters as they took turns. He hit quite a few sixes and when there was a close one that just about reached over the fence, the likes of Shanto and Liton tried to take the mickey out of the captain arguing it was not a six.
As many as five players, who made their presence felt in the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), were included in the Tigers T20I squad to face England later this month
Rony Talukdar and Shamim Hossain returned to the squad while Towhid Hridoy, Rejaur Rahman Raja, and Tanvir Islam received their maiden T20I call-up for the England series.