Shakib: We still have a chance to become group champions

|| CF DESK ||

Bangladesh premier all-rounder Shakib al Hasan said the Tigers' have got a much-needed boost up following their hard-fought victory over Oman and also said Bangladesh can qualify to Super 12 as a group champions.  

In their second qualifying game, Bangladesh restricted hosts Oman to 127 for nine and won by 26 runs at Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat on Tuesday.

Bangladesh will play Papua New Guinea in their final qualifier on Thursday, and a win with a good run rate will seal Bangladesh's passage to the super 12 stage.

“I don't know [the run rate calculation], we might be able to tell better if we look at the run rate calculation. But after talking to our computer analyst, who told us about the run rate in the current situation, if we win by a fairly good margin with Papua New Guinea, which we hope to win. Since there is a match between Oman and Scotland, a team must lose there,” Shakib said during the post-match press conference Tuesday.

“The run rate will go back and if we win against Papua New Guinea, our run rate will go up. We still have a chance to become group champions. And if that doesn't happen, we're in a position to qualify,” he added.

Shakib has struggled with the bat in recent months, and his past two IPL innings have ended in golden ducks. He also struggled in the Tigers' first match against Scotland, scoring 28 off 28 balls while chasing 141.

However, the ace all-rounder produced a superb performance under duress, scoring 42 off 29 balls with six boundaries and forming an important 80-run third-wicket stand with Mohamamad Naim.

“I always try to make a contribution for my team to win games, whether it is with bowling or batting. Wherever I play this is always my target, to help the team to achieve victory," the southpaw said.

Shakib considers bowlers bowled really well, particularly in the middle part of the Oman innings, and turned the match in favor of Bangladesh.

“In the last game against Scotland, we needed 86 runs to win. (Tuesday) Oman required 84 for victory in the last 10 overs against us. We knew that, it would not be easy in this condition. Bowlers have bowled well and used this condition well,"

“Saifuddin and Mahedi [Hasan] bowled really well. I think their bowling was the turning point in the match. They probably gave 30 odd runs in their eight overs. They must get credit for that,” he added.