‘Quality of our spinners shone through’ – Afghanistan coach Trott pleased after opening win

Bangladesh have found the Afghanistan spinners the most troublesome in ODIs in the last ten years.

Although they made the most of the variable bounce on offer at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Bangladesh’s batters also didn’t do themselves any favours. While Litton Das and Najmul Hossain Shanto were out to soft dismissals when they were starting to look comfortable, Mushfiqur Rahim let a Rashid half-tracker slip through his legs.

Trott highlighted the experience of his spin attack, which helped them switch from T20Is to ODIs. He said they knew exactly when to bowl in an attacking manner, and when to be a little defensive.

“I don’t think it is too dissimilar nowadays [bowling in T20Is and ODIs]. Batsmen have an attacking mindset in both formats,” Trott said. “Spinners have to be clever. They are allowed four fielders out till the 40th over. That’s when they usually bowl. They sometimes bowl in the powerplay [too]. So they have to figure out how they attack at the right times, but also how to defend on wickets where there’s not much assistance.”

“We have played against their bowling before… We didn’t get a good partnership from the lower order. I am hopeful that in the next game, we will do better in a similar situation”

Towhid Hridoy is confident of Bangladesh responding to defeat in the first ODI

But the one-off Test between Bangladesh and Afghanistan featured none of these three spinners, and Bangladesh had feasted on an inexperienced attack to post 382 and 425 for 4 declared.

Bangladesh now have to face Afghanistan in the two remaining ODIs of the ongoing series, but also at least once in the upcoming Asia Cup in August-September, and then, in their tournament opener at the ODI World Cup, where they face each other in Dharamsala.

“It [Bangladesh] is a mature team. They have been serving the national team for a long time,” Hridoy said. “Nobody has to be told anything new. We will get out of this by thinking about it individually. We back everyone in the dressing room. We can come back from this position.”

Although this was Hridoy’s first time facing Rashid, Mujeeb and Nabi at the highest level, he already had some idea about Nabi and Mujeeb because of the BPL.

“This was the first time that I faced Rashid. I have played Mujeeb in Under-19 cricket. We were also in the same team in BPL,” Hridoy said. “I played Nabi bhai in the BPL. I think they are the best spin combination in the world. You can play spin better against any team after you do well against them. I was talking to Shakib [Al Hasan] bhai about it too. It was a bit challenging. We have to do better than we did today [in the first ODI].”

“We have played against their bowling before,” Hridoy said. “Someone or the other stood up. In the last series, Miraz bhai and Afif played well. We also had a feeling that someone would do the job [in the first ODI]. We didn’t get a good partnership from the lower order. I am hopeful that in the next game, we will do better in a similar situation.”