Sanjay Bangar has criticized Bangladesh duo Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim for throwing away their wickets easily after getting set in Bangladesh’s Asia Cup 2023 Super Four clash against Pakistan. However, they were bowled out for 193 despite Shakib and Mushfiqur’s 100-run fifth-wicket partnership in Lahore on Wednesday, September 6 against Pakistan and later they lost the game eventually as well.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Bangar said: “Thus far in this tournament, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz batted well, so the expectation was that Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim would prolong the innings or their partnership. Both of them lost their wickets after getting set. Shakib got out while playing the pull shot but when Haris Rauf returned to bowl, Mushfiqur played a very adventurous shot on the first delivery itself. However, before that, both of them took them to a slightly respectable position with their partnership.”
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However, Shakib was caught by Fakhar Zaman at deep backward square leg off Faheem Ashraf whereas Mushfiqur got out while trying to play an aggressive shot off Haris Rauf. And, Sanjay Bangar also opined on Shakib Al Hasan’s knock as well.
“It was a Test match-like position. As he has so much experience, he was coming right behind the ball. When the bowling is so fast, you cannot play much beside the line. When you come inwards, you get a lot of deliveries on your legs. When he went on the back foot, he played quite a few shots in the point region. He attacked brilliantly even if he was given slight width and that is what makes him special. I feel if he had batted for a little while longer, because this Bangladesh side have the depth, they might have taken the score beyond 250,” he shared.
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Sanjay Bangar has also applauded Imam-ul-Haq for playing a stunning knock in Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2023 Super Four win against Bangladesh. Imam-ul-Haq scored 78 runs off 84 deliveries to help his side register a seven-wicket win with 63 balls to spare.
“He has been extremely consistent in the Pakistan team’s batting because he has scored a series of centuries in the last year or two. It wasn’t an easy knock for him because Bangladesh’s bowlers tested him properly. Whether it was Taskin Ahmed or Shoriful Islam, the lines they were bowling against him, he didn’t get any easy runs. He stuck to his strength, which is to attack the short balls, whether it is against the seamers or the spinners. He scored a lot of runs with that shot. He played to his strengths and waited for the right balls. Luck also favored him slightly because the DRS calls went in his favor but once he got his eye in, he attacked spin very well,” Sanjay Bangar concluded.
