Mehidy unfazed by defeat to Afghanistan: 'One series can go bad'

Bangladesh are writing off this ODI series defeat to Afghanistan as "two bad days", according to Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The hosts were crushed by 142 runs as their recent ODI form deserted them, and Afghanistan went on to amass 331 by breaking a few records and seal their first series against the hosts. Mehidy said Bangladesh were "not worried" about the series loss and will plan better for the two big tournaments later in the year, the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup.

"I think we had two bad days. We are not worried about it," he said. "We can plan better for the Asia Cup and World Cup. We play to win every game. We will find out where we lack. I said in a press conference a little while ago that losing against Afghanistan won't make us a bad side. One series can go bad.

"We have a good record in the last three-four years. We finished in the top four in the ICC ODI Super League. I think we can overcome these mistakes from the past two games, and play much better in the Asia Cup and World Cup."

Mehidy rejected the idea that Tamim Iqbal's retirement and then the U-turn played any part in the defeat in the second ODI on Saturday.

"Everyone was shocked with Tamim bhai's decision. Nobody expected it," Mehidy said after the loss Chattogram. "It was a break that day and we had training yesterday. We prepared for this game. But that bad feeling was temporary."

Mehidy said that Bangladesh had fallen well behind in the match when they couldn't stop the Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, who scored 145 and 100 respectively, from adding a massive 256 in 36 overs.

"We gave away 30-40 runs more [than we should have]," he said. "We weren't organised enough as a bowling unit. If our top order also made runs and had a partnership going, we could have taken this game deep. It became hard when the top order fell [quickly]".

However, Bangladesh's bowlers brought them into the contest despite the visitors being well on track to post even 400. They grabbed nine wickets in the last 14 overs, thus restricting Afghanistan to only 75 runs in the period. That was a significant slowdown, particularly when they were going at above ten runs an over in the six overs before Gurbaz's dismissal in the 37th over. Mehidy said that Bangladesh's decision to bowl was to give their batters the best batting conditions under lights at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

"We expected the wicket to play better at night," he said. "We batted first in the first game [after losing the toss]. The wicket was slow. It kept low. It improved in the evening, so the captain and coach thought that if [on winning the toss in the second ODI] we bowled well up front and then batted in the second innings, things will be easy for us."

Bangladesh were a bit slow in their chase and stumbled to 28 for 3 in the powerplay. The remaining six wickets - Ebadot Hossain didn't bat due to an injury - fell in clusters of three each, too. And once they were 72 for 6 in the 19th over, the game was all but done.