ICC World Cup 2019 | Our coaching staff deserves much credit for the win, asserts Shakib Al Hasan
After a convincing win against West Indies, Shakib Al Hasan has credited the team management for keeping them calm in the dressing room despite a series of bad performances. The all-rounder also added that mental toughness and hard work are important for a cricketer to succeed at the highest level.
Although Bangladesh started their 2019 World Cup campaign on a perfect note by getting the better of South Africa in their opening game, two successive defeats against New Zealand and England and a shared point game with Sri Lanka pushed them onto the backfoot.
However, they picked themselves up in style as they chased down the 321 posted by West Indies in clinical fashion and the main architect of the victory was Shakib al Hasan. The all-rounder was affluent in his praise for the kind of cricket they are playing cricket now and credited the team management for keeping them calm in the dressing room.
"I will say it's a whole new level [for us]. I personally think those matches in Ireland helped us a lot. Because we won every match chasing there and at no point it seemed that we are batting under pressure and we have to play big strokes,” Shakib said after Bangladesh's seven-wicket win, reported Cricbuzz.
"Yes, everybody played big shots but we played cricketing shots, which big teams normally do. I think our coaching staff deserves much credit. Because what used to happen earlier is that we used to panic in the dressing room. It was a big problem. The good thing that happens now is that, our coaching staff remained so calm that [there was] no chance to panic. It's contagious, it happens naturally. When someone panics another one starts to panic too. They are trying to push this in our dressing room and I think it's a big reason behind us chasing in this manner," he added.
While short balls have always been considered as Bangladesh’s weaknesses over the years, Shakib quite remarkably led the team to win in the face of short ball barrage - South Africa at The Oval and West Indies in Taunton. The 32-year-old claimed he was trying to match the levels he had reached nine years ago, when he single-handedly took down New Zealand in Bangladesh's breakout ODI performance in 2010.
"Mindset is very important. At this level, in this atmosphere, mental strength is very helpful. Fitness is important too, but the more you can be courageous, everything clicks. The battle is within oneself. If you keep telling yourself 'I am winning' it will definitely help you win.
"I am seeing the ball really well. I think it is one of the key part of my batting. I am getting more time. I was never in a rush chasing these runs. I was patient enough to put the bad ball away. In terms of runs, it is my best. I have done well in the past but it is not necessary that you always make the most runs or take the most wickets when you have the best mindset. I am in a good place now, which I want to continue," he said.
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