In the inaugural Super 4 stage encounter of the 2023 Asia Cup, captained by Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh National Cricket Team suffered a defeat at the hands of the Pakistan National Cricket Team, led by Babar Azam. Pakistan secured a convincing victory, winning by 7 wickets with 63 balls to spare, in a match held at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, September 6th.
Post-match, Shakib Al Hasan expressed his disappointment with his team’s batting performance, acknowledging their struggle against Pakistan’s formidable bowling attack and their lapses in shot selection. He lamented the undesirable situation of losing four wickets within the first 10 overs on a pitch of this nature and stressed the imperative need for stronger partnerships in the forthcoming matches.
Shakib Al Hasan acknowledged Pakistan’s status as the top-ranked team in the ICC ODI Rankings, offering praise for their world-class pace bowlers. He emphasized that when Pakistan’s bowlers perform at their best, it significantly eases the task for their batsmen.
The Bangladesh skipper also took a moment to applaud his own bowling unit, noting their consistent performance. However, he candidly admitted that their batting had been inconsistent and required a concerted effort to attain stability. Shakib Al Hasan pointed out the proficiency of their seam bowlers and expressed optimism for a strong showing in Colombo in the upcoming matches, particularly on slower pitches.