Bangladesh's batting unit has been under intense scrutiny after yet another disappointing effort in a global event. After two poor totals (228 all out and 236 for 9) they were eliminated from the Champions Trophy, which, according to former Indian batsman Wasim Jaffer, continued the pattern of their more seasoned players skipping ICC tournaments.
The performances of Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim during Tuesday's five-wicket defeat against New Zealand drew special criticism from Jaffer. In just the 27th over, Bangladesh was five runs down after both men were removed for making reckless shots. The final target was pursued by New Zealand with little effort.
Jaffer stated, "On ESPNcricinfo's Match Day, we've only seen probably Shakib [Al Hasan] with that 2019 [ODI] World Cup where he was a standout player." "But I don't know if it's the pressure that gets to them or they put too much pressure on themselves, they just don't turn up."
Mahmudullah has a track record of excelling at ICC competitions; he scored a century when Bangladesh defeated New Zealand in the 2017 Champions Trophy and two consecutive hundreds in the 2015 ODI World Cup. However, he was injured and missed their first game, and in the second, he destroyed himself.
"Even the shot selection we've seen today was very disappointing," Jaffer stated. Mahmudullah was playing that wild shot, and Mushfiq [Mushfiqur] was playing that shot. And you have to win this game. In these types of games, you want them to step up and contribute. Unfortunately, it has been the narrative of the ICC events.
Additionally, Jaffer believed that Bangladesh was at least "50 to 60 runs short" on a Rawalpindi pitch that wasn't doing anything to assist the bowlers.
"They could have easily put 300-plus on that pitch," he stated. "They are responsible for their own actions. To get a team like New Zealand out for less than 240 runs is too much to ask of the bowling unit.
Shane Bond, the former New Zealand fast bowler, indicated that while "there is a lot to work with" Bangladesh's bowling attack, their batting seems to be a concern. He added that Bangladesh lost by five wickets in part because of missed fielding opportunities. Mehidy Hasan Miraz fell Rachin Ravindra on 93 and Mahmudullah on 106, but he escaped a run-out opportunity at 26.
"I think their bowling attack looks good," Bond remarked. "They have the left-armer [Mustafizur Rahman] and the heat, which New Zealand and a side like England lack. The spinners perform well.
Additionally, the narrow margins... they lost opportunities. Missing those missed catches or run-out opportunities might mean the difference between winning and losing a game. The outcome of this game might have been quite different if they had taken those chances. Their bowling attack has a lot to work with. In the end, I believe their batting was the issue.
Any coach would "feel a bit grumpy" after the sort of performance Bangladesh put on as their Champions Trophy 2025 voyage came to an end, according to Bond, who coaches a lot in the franchise T20 circuit.
"I think it's the natural inclination as a coach to feel that way," Bond stated. "As a coach, it's risky to start talking about things you shouldn't do and to allow your emotions run wild. Therefore, you're still attempting to establish an atmosphere that encourages players to show up and play well, and you want them to understand exactly how you plan to play.
"And in the end, it's acceptable if they try to carry out their game plans and play the way you desire and they lose. It becomes quite challenging if they don't. So, as a player, that's what you want.
"This is how the coach wants me to fulfill my role on the team," you want to say. It's acceptable if I go and try my best to do it. We're not inside the Bangladeshi camp, so we don't know what those conversations are about, and sometimes it doesn't work. As a result, it's hard to pass judgment on such things."