Exclusive: Bangladesh Paid the Price for Poor Preparation at ICC Champions Trophy

Bangladesh’s former national team skipper and chief selector Minhajul Abedin feels that Bangladesh paid the price for inadequate preparation leading up to the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy.

Bangladesh returned home with just one point after their final match against Pakistan was abandoned. The team had already been knocked out following successive losses against India and New Zealand, where they were humbled without putting up a fight.

While other leading teams opted for bilateral ODI series as part of their preparation for the Champions Trophy, Bangladesh focused on the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). 

After the domestic tournament ended, Najmul Hossain and his squad had only a week-long preparation camp at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

PREPARATION WAS NOT IDEAL

In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com, Minhajul insisted that Bangladesh’s preparation was far from ideal. He also admitted that he never expected the team to progress far in the tournament, given the gap in quality between subcontinent teams and those playing at the top level.

“I think the preparation was not right before going into the tournament,” Minhajul told SportsBoom.com. 

“T20I and ODI formats are different, and even though both use the white ball, the tempo is quite different.”

“Other Test-playing nations have developed significantly compared to us. So, I never expected us to be champions or even reach the semi-finals. I always say that if we play good cricket on a particular day, the result could have been different. But technically, if we compare ourselves with the six top teams in the world, we are far behind."

"Our cricketing standard is not up to the mark, especially when you consider the individual performances of our players. That was the major difference, which is why I didn’t expect us to be playing in the final,” he added.

LITTON DAS WAS MISSED

Minhajul refused to blame senior players Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah for Bangladesh’s poor showing. 

Instead, he pointed out that the team missed Litton Das, who failed to make the cut for the squad.

“You have to assess the overall performance, not just one or two individuals,” Minhajul said. 

“If we expect to see something good, we have to play as a team. Batting, bowling, and fielding must all be up to the mark. There is no point in blaming one or two players. We need a collective effort.”

“Experience-wise, Litton should have been in the team. He has played a lot in Dubai and Pakistan. You can certainly question the selection panel for not including such an experienced campaigner in a global tournament. In these events, experience matters a lot because the pressure is completely different."

MUSTAFIZUR’S FORM WAS A CONCERN

Minhajul also addressed the decision to include Mustafizur Rahman over Hasan Mahmud. 

He felt that Hasan was unfortunate to be left out, as Mustafizur failed to deliver.

“There were three pacers, and the selectors opted for experience, choosing Mustafizur Rahman ahead of Hasan Mahmud."

“Perhaps the idea was to bring variety to the attack, which also included Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib. However, Mustafizur has not been performing well for quite some time, and that remains a big concern.”

“Given his experience, he was expected to deliver, but his form is worrying. He needs to play domestic cricket regularly to hone his skills and add new tricks to his arsenal. Right now, he is becoming very predictable,” Minhajul concluded.

Bangladesh's early exit from the Champions Trophy raises serious concerns about their preparation, squad selection, and overall strategy. The team must reassess its approach to major tournaments and focus on improving both individual and collective performances.

One key takeaway is the need for experience in high-pressure situations. While youthful energy is valuable, seasoned campaigners like Litton Das could have provided stability in the batting lineup. The selection panel must find the right balance between form and experience.

Bowling remains a concern, with Mustafizur Rahman struggling. The team management must ensure pacers get enough exposure in competitive cricket to maintain effectiveness.

A more strategic approach to selection, preparation, and performance evaluation will be crucial if Bangladesh wants to compete with top-tier teams and make an impact in future ICC tournaments.