‘We’re looking to have good pitches back home’

The ploy of gathering winning momentum by exploiting home conditions ahead of the T20 World Cup was exposed brutally by sporting tracks at the event, leaving Bangladesh still searching for a first win in the Super 12 stage ahead of their fifth and final game against Australia in Dubai today.

Initially, the team management and players seemed assured of the tonic that winning series against Australia and New Zealand before the mega event would provide. But following a disastrous campaign, at least one of the members of the Bangladesh team management agreed that the Tigers needed a level playing field for batters and the bowlers.

Sri Lanka spin legend Rangana Herath, currently the Tigers' spin coach, realises that Bangladesh need sporting pitches in upcoming home series, starting in the Pakistan series after the T20 World Cup.

"It all depends where we are going to play. I am sure we need to expect good pitches, which give chances to batters and bowlers. We are looking to have good pitches back home," Herath said ahead of the game against Australia yesterday.

While Bangladesh's hopes of reaching the semifinals were extinguished, Herath was eyeing a positive finish against an Australian side the Tigers defeated 4-1 prior to the World Cup. However, it will be a different ball game against the Aussies on the sporting tracks of the UAE, where spinners will not get the support they received on tailor-made Mirpur pitches.

"As professionals, we need to come back strongly. We have another game to go. We need to maintain that winning mindset and build winning confidence. We have to think about Bangladesh cricket's way forward. We have another chance to win against Australia tomorrow (Thursday). The guys will analyse what they have done, and what they have to do. I am sure they will come back strongly," he said.

The 43-year-old, who was part of Sri Lanka's golden generation which won the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, opined that the players needed to challenge themselves.

"Playing for your country is a matter of pride and responsibility. We should all understand the responsibilities and roles whether you play for Sri Lanka or Bangladesh. You have to identify that role and then improve day by day. A cricketer has to realise that if they want to be a good or great cricketer. You need to be more professional, work harder and challenge yourself. In that way you can improve individually and as a team," said Herath.

There were questions regarding not keeping leg-spinner Aminul Islam as a backup following Shakib Al Hasan's departure due to injury as leggies have had a huge impact in the mega event and Herath, perhaps having realised that, informed that Aminul would be included for the Tigers' next assignments at home and away.