Mortaza: “Once we are ready mentally, anything can be possible.”

Bangladesh’s skipper Mashrafe Mortaza was proud of his team’s achievements in getting to the last-four but was left bemoaning missed opportunities with the bat as they went down to a nine-wicket defeat to India at Edgbaston.

With Bangladesh on 154-2 in the 28th over and star batsmen Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim rattling along, a target of 300-plus seemed well within reach. But when both fell in quick succession to Kedar Jadhav’s occasional off-breaks, their ambitions were checked.

“I think we could have had a big total,” Mortaza said. “The way we had been playing, Tamim and Mushfiqur, they got out to a part-time bowler, [and then] it's always difficult. At that time we had been on top. Suddenly a wicket falls and from there again, we couldn't go through. So it was always difficult from there to score 300.”

The skipper also acknowledged that his team have been somewhat over-reliant on a core of batsmen, with Tamim, Mushfiqur, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmadullah all enjoying successful tournaments. “We can't just [be] asking them all the time,” he said. “It will be nice if some youngsters can come [through], and they have before, but this time it was hard for them. Hopefully [they] will be back in England 2019 and do better than whatever they did this time.”

Mortaza also conceded that while defending a total of 264-7 was always going to be a tall order, the challenge was exacerbated by an uneven bowling performance. Employing the short ball against Shikhar Dhawan in particular, the Indian opener climbed into Bangladesh’s opening bowlers on an easy-paced pitch.

“We didn't bowl into the right areas, and when you don't bowl into the right areas, then the short ball doesn't affect. That's the thing. You have to bowl in the right areas, then the short ball will count. We have to learn that on that sort of wicket, we have to bowl in the right areas as long as possible.”

Mortaza admits his bowling attack still needs to develop their skills when defending a target. “Once you're bowling in the second half it's always difficult, but we have to learn a bit more, to stop runs on that sort of wicket, especially against a batting order like India. We have to learn a little bit more about how can we stop runs and put pressure on the opponent.”

Overall, though, a semi-final showing in English conditions has been a source of great pride for Mortaza and his team. And while the skipper has yet to confirm whether he will be staying in the job – “I'm still enjoying it, so maybe, maybe not” – whatever he decides for himself, he recognises the progress that has been made by his young team.

“The boys should feel proud. In a tournament like this, you have to be physically and skill-wise not too bad. Yes, we are coming up still. We need to learn so many things. We have got to be a little bit more ready mentally to play this sort of match. I know once you are ready mentally, anything can be possible.”