Published: Feb 18, 2015, 10:37 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 09, 2015, 11:12 AM (IST)
Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mushfiqar Rahim reflects on his team’s victory over Afghanistan and talks about the match against Australia.
Q: The way you ran out the last Afghanistan player and the way you guys took the victory lap for the fans at the stadium, how big was this win for you?
Mushfiqur Rahim (MR): A lot has been said regarding the condition and also the expectation because as everyone knows that we are coming into the game as being favorites, and all the pressure is on us to deliver the goods, so I think the fans coming from all over Australia and also back home. We needed a really good win, and that has been done. I think it’s not an easy win, but it’s a comprehensive win, so in that case, I think it’s really a great feeling. And also was a fast game, so everyone was a bit nervous. The first couple of overs, I thought maybe after 20-25 overs, after that, me and Shakib both batted really well and I think everyone calmed down, so I think the bowlers and also the fielders backed up. Overall it’s a great win and it’s a nice feeling.
Q: There was a lot of talk about this match because of the loss to Afghanistan before, and you were the captain at Fatullah. It must have been very hard that day.
MR: Yeah, obviously. As I said, you can see with that run out. It’s a really pleasing thing. As I said, being the captain, we lost that match against them and it’s a big pressure match for us and also the fastness of the World Cup. We needed a win badly because in this tour we haven’t won any of our practice matches, so we have a target, so I think it’s a great feeling, and hopefully we can continue the momentum in the future games.
Q: The crowd was cheering at your batting. Do you think you can perform the same in Australia and with the Sri Lankan teams?
MR: I think so if we can do the right things well. I think we have that potential. I think we are looking forward to that challenge against Australia and Sri Lanka and England and also other teams in our group. I think that this confidence will boost us. I think there are a lot of areas we need to work on. I think the belief is there in the group, so hopefully we just need to click on that day in that department. That’s all we need.
Q: Are you confident, Mushy, that you can repeat this performance and get another win over Australia like you did about 10 years ago?
MR: I think everyone talks about that — they’re probably the No.1 team at the moment, the way they are playing, so it’s not going to be easy, but it’s not going to be impossible, either. In any game, anyone can win on any day. Ireland against West Indies, it’s not an easy chase, but still, they did it with 40 balls remaining. So anyone can win in this game. Obviously going to that match, everyone will think that Australia going to win easily, so hopefully we can prove something. And all the boys are really geared up for that match, and I think we will try our level best to do well.
Q: Afghanistan players said a lot of things before this match, saying that Bangladesh would be under pressure. Some mentioned the match in Fatullah. Do you think those words gave the Bangladesh team an extra motivation to do well?
MR: Probably, but the thing is there will be pressure, and I think there is a couple of senior guys and also a couple of guys who will really talk about this and the pressure. We just need to cope with that and we need to be calm and we need to deliver this, so I think today it was Shakib and my day; hopefully the next day it will be someone else, and if we have the chance, we will repeat the same innings. I think as a group we are going really well, so hopefully that should be our plan to do as a group well.
Courtesy: ICC
