Do or die for Tigers

The death-overs bowling, captain Shakib Al Hasan's decision not to hand the ball to Mahmudullah Riyad after a brilliant over where he picked up two wickets for just one run and the lack of application from Bangladesh's batsmen in handling Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan were the topics dominating discussions during yesterday's team talk after their 45-run defeat in the first of the three-match T20I series on Sunday.

The Bangladesh team will have to overcome the various mental blocks if they want to save the series when they take on a spirited Afghanistan in the second match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun today at 8:30pm (Bangladesh time).

Yesterday's optional training session was attended by all the members except skipper Shakib and their gloomy faces showed that the outpouring of criticism for Sunday's showing has had a huge impact.

The pace department has been the major area of concern for Bangladesh as Rubel Hossain, Abu Jayed and Abul Hasan conceded 106 runs from their combined 10 overs.

Despite pulling things back after the flying start -- at one point Afghanistan were struggling on 105 for four after 16 overs -- Bangladesh conceded 62 runs in the last four overs on a slow and low track. It was that passage that changed the course of the game.

Making a comeback to the shortest format of the game after six years, Abul gave away forty runs from his three overs, conceding 19 runs in the last over of the innings, and although he took two wickets it was learned that the seamer is likely to make way for all-rounder Ariful Haque in today's game.

There are concerns too in the batting department and the mindset of unsettling the main Afghan spinners Rashid and Mujeeb Ur Rahman by going after them from the word go needs to change. Tamim Iqbal paid for his indecision against Mujeeb in the first ball of the innings, Mushfiqur Rahim fell to an ill-advised reverse sweep off Rashid's first ball and Shakib, who was out swiped across the line off Mohammad Nabi, should be careful about shot selection.

The junior members of the side -- Liton Das, Sabbir Rahman and Mosaddek Hossain -- also need to step up to keep the tempo going with the bat.

On the other hand, Afghanistan will be looking to seal the series by banking yet again on their two X-factors in Rashid and Mujeeb along with the experience of Nabi and skipper Asghar Stanikzai.

The pitch is expected to play the same -- low and slow -- and from Bangladesh's point of view it will be a test of character if they want to make a comeback in the series.