Hridoy Hits Back at Critics as Bangladesh Choose Smart Cricket Over Speed

Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy has defended his team’s measured approach during their Asia Cup opener against Hong Kong, saying the focus was on securing victory rather than boosting their net run-rate.

Bangladesh chased down a modest target of 144 in 17.4 overs at a run rate of 8.28. While the win came comfortably with seven wickets in hand and 14 balls to spare, questions were raised in the post-match press conference about whether the team had missed an opportunity to finish the match earlier and make a stronger statement — particularly in terms of net run-rate, which can be crucial in tournament scenarios.

In response, Hridoy maintained that the team’s strategy was shaped by game awareness and the need to avoid unnecessary risks.

“We wanted to ensure that the match didn’t slip away from us,” said Hridoy. “We tried to end the game early but I couldn’t connect the ball that well. The result is more important than finishing one or two overs earlier. You (the media) would have had something to say had we lost today.”

He added that while they were aware of the net run-rate implications, they prioritized building partnerships and maintaining control.

“We could have finished the game earlier but we stuck to the demands of the situation. Our mentality is to always win. I think we played smart cricket. We could have finished two or three overs earlier, but we could have lost one or two more wickets. We must prioritise partnerships.”

Captain Litton Das echoed a similar sentiment at the post-match presentation, citing difficult batting conditions. He noted that the pitch and the large boundaries at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi made consistent big hitting a challenge, forcing the batters to focus more on strike rotation.

Despite needing to finish the chase in under 12 overs to go ahead of Afghanistan’s net run-rate of 4.70, Bangladesh opted for a more cautious approach. Hridoy acknowledged the target but emphasized that preserving wickets and maintaining form was a more important goal at this stage of the competition.

“So, should we have gone to the ground to lose against Hong Kong?” Hridoy said rhetorically. “Our target was to win. Every team can have their day in T20s. Maybe we could have finished earlier had I struck a few more boundaries.”

Looking ahead, Hridoy made it clear that the team is focused on upcoming crucial fixtures.

“We want to beat Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, so run-rate isn’t what we are worried about at this stage. We don’t want to complicate matters so early in the tournament.”

With their next games expected to pose tougher challenges, Bangladesh appear confident in their approach — valuing composure and clarity over flash and flair.