10 October - Dharamsala - Bangladesh Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe post-match press conference
[Reporter:]
On Afghanistan and this game, the fast bowlers didn't start well or the Powerplay didn't go too well. And just additionally, the team also lost four wickets today quite early before getting to 100. And it has been happening for eight out of the last 10 times that they haven't scored 100 runs. So, these two things, like the starts, has that also been bothering you as the head coach?
[Chandika Hathurusingha:]
If you don't get a start, if you lose more than three wickets early in Powerplay, you're not winning many matches. So definitely it's a concern. We need to, because when we play seven batters also, we want our top-order to fire. So that's a big concern. You're right. The fast bowlers, I mean, unusually they were off colour last two games in the Powerplay. So normally on a day game, early on, there is a little bit... For the fast bowlers, even this game, there was the same movement early on, a little bit tacky and too paced.
The two openers were... Pretty much, I mean, play, and misses and then miss hits. Then they were a little bit lucky and then after that they batted really well. So, if we had some early wicket, the story would have been a bit different.
[Reporter:]
Just additionally, in the Afghanistan game, you bowled outside the off stump, took seven wickets in that zone, but you tried the same thing today quite repeatedly, but you got hit for 16 boundaries. When you bowled almost the same amount of balls outside off stump, you think they didn't have a plan B, all the bowlers, I'm talking about spinners and fast bowlers. So, was there a lack of plan B in the bowling?
[Chandika Hathurusingha:]
It was, the plan was not to bowl outside the stumps. The plan was to bowl at the stump. I think the execution let us down, this game especially. You rightly said the last game also like we came back later with the help of the spinners. This game what happened was that our spinners also didn't bring us into the game because with good intelligent batting (England) I would say.
[Reporter:]
We saw the inconsistent batting for a long time, from a long time. But how do you describe the bowling effort today?
[Chandika Hathurusingha:]
Yeah, as I said, we were a little disappointed the way we started. We could have bowled a little bit more onto the stumps, especially at the start, first 10 overs. We came back well, especially- I thought very brave to bowl those variations when we were really under pressure, they would have got 400 at one stage, I thought. So, there are some positives, but then we didn't bowl well.
[Reporter:]
Chandika, here. Did you miss [inaudible 05:16] Ebadat Hossein Chowdhury, especially in the middle overs where England scored heavily. Just a second one, except for Litton Das's innings - do you think there were anything positive to take away from this game?
[Chandika Hathurusingha:]
Yeah, those are the biggest positives to take away from this game. Litton coming into from - the way he batted was a good sign for us and a good sign for him as well. We know that he's a match winner. We need runs from the start. We can't keep losing early wickets. He came into form and Mushi getting some runs is a good positive.
[Reporter:]
And the Ebadot part?
[Chandika Hathurusingha:]
Ebadot is unfortunate not to make the World Cup. Even if he is there, we would have... We had other options. But then we played three fast bowlers and they had done the job for us in the past. So, I think it's these last two games, it's a bit of a two-off days, I would say. They've been bowling well.
[Reporter:]
Do you feel Bangladesh made a mistake about reading the pitch and choose to field first? What was Sridhar's input in this things? Because he was here, we heard that he was here to give this type of input.
[Chandika Hathurusingha:]
I didn't understand the second one. The first one is, I don't think we made a mistake by bowling first. Because the wicket had something and especially with 10 o'clock, 10.30 start and then yesterday a little bit of rain, there was something in the wicket. The fact was that we didn't bowl good areas, our lengths and lines were not good. .
[Reporter:]
What was Sriram's input?
[Chandika Hathurusingha:]
Sriram is here as a consultant for us. He's been with us in the last World Cup. So, his role is vast, not only about the pitches.
[Reporter:]
Obviously there have been a lot of talk about the failure in the opening spot. And since the openers have not fired yet, do you think it's a bit of concern moving forward since you don't have much of an option left in the opening spot?
[Chandika Hathurusingha:]
It is a concern, we've not been scoring, but then Litton coming into form this game was good positive for us. And then Tanzim scored runs in the two practice games so he was in form. So, there's two failures. In the World Cup it can happen for any team. So, I'm hoping those two, those guys will fight because most of the batters now got into form. And coming games, hopefully we'll perform as a group.
[Reporter:]
I have two questions. The first one is I'd just like to know how the team functions because you have three major figures in the team. Khaled Mahmood is the team director; you're obviously the head coach and Sridhar is the major consultant. I just want to know about the working process of you three. And another part, all other teams are sending their players. We're very happy to get you, don't misunderstand me. But Bangladesh is not sending any players to the press conference before the game or after the game. Is that a team decision to take the pressure off something like that? Or do you think the media is a very big distraction for the players?
[Chandika Hathurusingha:]
Okay. The team management. It's functioning well, there is a is a manager or the head of the delegation. Sriram is consultant, and I'm the head coach. So, I'm very happy with that, how it's functioning. There's no issue in that. What is the second one?
[Reporter:]
I know your post, but I just want to know your function. What's that? Is there any job description you've just given to Sriram or taken care of certain things?
[Chandika Hathurusingha:]
There's no such a thing as that. They are all contributing towards the team and they are free to contribute the way they see is right. I'm very comfortable with that.
[Reporter:]
Don't you think you have a big leakage in the opening stand, batting opening stand? The young chap is not playing, his best in this tournament. He's just got out two times in a row.
[Chandika Hathurusingha:]
Yeah, you're right. He got out two times and but he was in the runs in the first two practice game as well. So, he's just getting into international cricket. If you judge someone with two innings, then Malan would not be playing this game as well. So, we have to be patient.