Bangladesh’s Jaker Ali Blames Top-Order Collapse for Asia Cup Loss to Sri Lanka
In a tough Asia Cup 2023 clash in Abu Dhabi, Bangladesh batter Jaker Ali opened up about their heartbreaking six-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka. The team struggled big time with their batting, especially the top order, which couldn’t get them off to a strong start. Sri Lanka chased down a meager 140-run target in just 14.4 overs, making it look easy and exposing Bangladesh’s T20I batting woes.
Bangladesh’s innings kicked off disastrously—they lost both openers for zero runs, a first in their T20I history. Things got worse as the middle order crumbled, leaving them reeling at 53 for 5 early on. But Jaker Ali (41 not out) and Shamim Hossain (42 not out) fought back with an impressive 86-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Still, it wasn’t enough to set a challenging total against a fired-up Sri Lankan side.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Jaker stressed how crucial the openers and number three batter are for Bangladesh’s success. "We all know this, and they need to stay careful," he said. He advised against swinging for boundaries every ball in the powerplay. "Focus on drop-and-run shots and rotating the strike. I’m sure they’ll reflect on it and bounce back in the next game."
Jaker didn’t put the blame solely on the top order. He called for better planning and focus from the entire batting unit right from the start. "The top guys can explain their side, but if we’d planned properly and stayed sharp as a team early on, things could have turned out differently," he added. "Batting is a team effort. Even if Shamim and I did well, we all failed together, and that’s why we lost."
He also highlighted tricky conditions, like the strong wind that made hitting freely tough on parts of the ground. "You can’t attack both sides easily. Play smart on one side, and only go big on the other if the wind helps. We have to factor these in," Jaker explained. He avoided over-blaming the top order, noting that a solid start would have let them take fewer risks without wickets in hand.
Despite the setback in their second group stage match, Jaker stayed positive about Bangladesh’s Asia Cup hopes. Their path forward now depends on beating Afghanistan next and relying on Sri Lanka to win against both Afghanistan and Hong Kong. "No way we’re giving up," he declared. "We came here to win the tournament, not just play games. One loss doesn’t kill our chances—we’ll fight to win every match ahead."
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