‘Rather than just skill, we have chance to improve mentally’

Bangladesh batter Nurul Hasan feels that rather than skill, the team needs to effect improvement in mindset to stop failing in crunch moments. The comments came after Bangladesh's batting slump in their four-wicket win over against Afghanistan in the first T20I yesterday at Sharjah almost let the game slip.

Bangladesh were flying high in chase of Afghanistan's 151 for 9 with both openers Tanzid Tamim and Parvez Hossain Emon coming into runs after dismal Asia Cup performances. Bangladesh went past 100 inside 11 overs as both openers hit fifty. In the space of 18 deliveries, Bangladesh lost five wickets to slump from 109 for no loss to 117 for five with Rashid Khan being the chief architect of destruction. Tanzim Sakib fell to make it 118 for 6 before Sohan and Rishad Hossain seized the game with a few late blows.

"We have been playing cricket for a while but during crucial stages sometimes we fail because of our mindset. The wicket was the same and Emon and Tanzid gave us a good start. Maybe doubts began to appear within us a little bit as they [Rashid and Noor Ahmed] are both world-class spinners. But I think that rather than skill, we have a chance to improve mentally in this area" Sohan said at the press conference after the match.

Sohan himself was under scrutiny for his batting during the Asia Cup where Bangladesh fell to a bitter defeat against Pakistan because of lack of application from the batting unit.

"I feel that in the Asia Cup, we had a good chance, an opportunity that we missed. Obviously, from that position, we always think about how to reduce the mistakes that happen. But at the same time, I feel that after the Asia Cup, this was our first match, and it was very important for us to win this match," Sohan said about the win.

The Tigers will play the second T20I on Friday hoping to seal the series with a win.