Pakistan v Bangladesh, 2nd ODI, Faisalabad

'One slip-up doesn't make the series' - Siddons

Osman Samiuddin in Faisalabad

April 10, 2008

	Mohammad Ashraful: "Our batting failed in Lahore. The power blackouts didn't help but we played rash shots as well" © AFP

As it cannot get much worse, things might be looking up for Bangladesh ahead of the second ODI against Pakistan in Faisalabad. They were roundly trounced in Lahore, their bowling was toothless after the first 20 overs and their batting never anything other than rash. Little surprise then that Jamie Siddons, Bangladesh's stoic coach, called the 152-run loss "a little embarrassing."

Embarrassing maybe, but not the end of the world, or the series as it happens. "One slip-up doesn't make the series," Siddons reasoned. "We accept that Pakistan are a better side than us. They have to play badly and we have to play really well for us to win."

It was agreed - by captain, coach and opposing captain - that Bangladesh were at least one fast bowler short at Gaddafi Stadium. And with Shahadat Hossein and Syed Rasel fit and in the squad, the decision was doubly perplexing, explained at the time as the necessary sacrifice of specialists to the multi-skilled.

Yet whether or not they rectify that imbalance appears uncertain. Though Mohammad Ashraful again said he felt a fast bowler short, Siddons wasn't so emphatic about whether another would come in. "If we had a superstar fast bowler with us who we thought was better than what we had out there then sure. We didn't bank on the pitch spinning so much later and seam early on. We missed one bowler but our fifth bowling options gave away 106 runs and that is too many."

One thing Ashraful won't want a repeat of is the power fiasco that saw the floodlights go out three times - for nearly an hour in total - which he said affected his batsmen's concentration adversely. The first time was a complete blackout and subsequently one tower failed. The power crisis has affected the entire country, though local authorities were confident the back-up was in place at the Iqbal Stadium to avoid a similar situation.

"The lights going out changed our batting game-plans," Siddons said. We were chasing 6.5 an over before it and suddenly after we were chasing 9.5 or something."

But natural stroke-players that they are, Bangladesh won't mind so much the short boundaries and an absolutely bone-dry, rock-hard surface. "Our batting failed in Lahore," Ashraful said. "The power blackouts didn't help but we played rash shots as well. We have team rules which we didn't stick to then. If we do, then we should do well.

"Pakistan is a very good team but we didn't play well the other night. We hope to do better tomorrow." As does everyone in Faisalabad.

Osman Samiuddin is Pakistan editor of Cricinfo

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