Sarkar Defends Nurul After Super Over Loss, Admits Struggles on Tough Mirpur Pitch

Bangladesh batter Soumya Sarkar has refused to pin the blame on wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan after a dramatic Super Over defeat to West Indies in the second ODI on Tuesday. The visitors' comeback win has now set up a high-stakes series decider at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday.

Bangladesh were on the brink of victory before Nurul dropped a difficult catch off the final ball, allowing the West Indies to tie the game and push it into a Super Over – the first such instance for Bangladesh in international cricket. Despite the high-stakes moment, Sarkar stood by his teammate.

“It’s nothing like that – a catch alone doesn’t cost you the match,” Sarkar said at the post-match briefing. “Yes, it was a tough catch and if he had taken it, maybe we would have won. But it was difficult, and he gave a good effort.”

The Super Over defeat came despite spirited performances earlier in the match, including aggressive cameos from young legspinner Rishad Hossain. His omission from the Super Over sparked questions, but Sarkar clarified that the decision was made by the team management.

“The coach and captain planned that. They wanted the main batter to go in. We didn’t know Akeal Hosein would bowl. If two left-handers had gone in and an off-spinner came on, we would have been in trouble. That’s why they sent a lefty and a righty,” he explained.

Sarkar, who faced challenges during the Super Over, admitted his own shortcomings in the crucial moment.

“You could say it was a failure for me,” he said candidly. “I thought I could get a boundary off the left-arm spinner. But the wicket wasn’t helping. The ball was old and turning a lot – it was hard to play big shots.”

Having recently returned to the national squad, Sarkar said he is still in the process of readjusting.

“Coming back after a long time is always challenging. There’s mental pressure too. But as a player, you have to perform whenever you get a chance. If you don’t, you’ll be out again,” he said.

Commenting on the conditions at Mirpur, Sarkar noted that the pitch made batting particularly difficult throughout the match.

“It’s always tough to bat here. You need intense focus because it’s not easy to score singles or boundaries. You have to spot the rare loose balls and also find ways to score off good deliveries,” he said. “It takes both skill and mental toughness to succeed on this kind of surface.”

With the series now tied at 1-1, Bangladesh face mounting pressure heading into the decider. However, Sarkar remains focused on the task ahead and emphasized team unity as they prepare for Thursday’s showdown.