Tamim urges Tigers to beat Lankans

Bangladesh’s stand-in ODI captain Tamim Iqbal has highlighted the need to get his team on track and get back to winning ways against hosts Sri Lanka.

The three-match ODI series begins on Friday in Colombo and Tamim believes that despite playing well in the World Cup, the team failed to win a few close games.

Bangladesh finished eighth with seven points and three wins and the left-handed opener admitted that his team could have done better and had the opportunity to win a few more games, but failed to grab those opportunities.

“I think we had a pretty decent World Cup. We had a few games that we should have won. If you look at the point table you will say that we had a very bad tournament because we ended on eighth. We as cricketers also felt that we could have done more,” Tamim reiterated.

The 30-year-old explained that the most important thing would be to win games of cricket and that’s what they have to do, as playing well without getting results simply would not cut it.

“We played some good cricket but we are at a stage where just playing good cricket doesn’t matter to us anymore. Winning games is more important than anything else,” he added.

Tamim himself had a disappointing series by his standards where he notched up just one half-century in eight games and he will be eager to get back in the runs.

It will also be the southpaw’s first time leading the team and he looks forward to making a lasting impression.

“Yes, if you think in that [winning matters] way, we had a disappointing World Cup but I look forward to this series. I think it will be a very important series.”

Bangladesh had already lost their ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and in-form batsman Liton Das to personal reasons along with regular captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza to a grade two hamstring tear, but Tamim is hopeful that his team has what it takes to win against the Lankans.

“There are important players who are missing due to personal reasons. I think the squad we have are very capable and playing Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka will be difficult but we have done well here in recent times and I hope we can use that momentum and produce good cricket for Bangladesh,” Tamim said.