Sridharan Sriram (Bangladesh, Head Coach) Pre-Match Media Conference Transcript | PAK v BAN | T20 World Cup 2022

ICC T20 World Cup 2022

Saturday, 5 November 2022

Adelaide , South Australia, Australia

Adelaide Oval

Bangladesh

Sridharan Sriram

Pre Match Media Conference

Q. What about actually happened in the last match about the potential fake fielding? Did complain about that in that match, and did you feel that this is one of the reasons for your losing?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: No, we are not here to offer any excuses. I did speak to the fourth umpire as soon as it happened, but I think it was the on-field umpire's call, and that's what we were told, but we're not here to offer any excuses.

Q. Obviously Bangladesh is still in contention in some way with a win here or other results going a certain way. Is the team looking forward to having another crack at a big team or at least having a win over one big team, and is that the goal by the end of this tournament?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: I've been very clear in all my press conferences. We're just taking it one game at a time, plan for one opposition at a time. Every game we want to go, we obviously want to win it, but we're aware of what challenges Pakistan present. We played them in New Zealand just recently, and we have high respect for that team, so we're going to turn up and be at our best on that day.

Q. Just one other thing; during the India match there was one footage during that match where you were seen talking quite animatedly. I don't have a question about that, but what did you think about the approach of batting after the rain delay?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: Well, it was quite frantic for that brief 10, 12 minutes, which is understandable. I think the boys, nine runs an over or 9.75 runs an over, definitely I think the pressure got to them a little bit.

Yeah, it was a little bit of a frantic 15, 20 minutes if I can put it, yes.

Q. Going forward in a format like T20, what discussion you had with the boys after the match because it was where you had 10 wickets and the middle order collapsed. In situations going forward how do you want to handle these things and what are the conversations you have had post-match?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: Well, I think to come that close, if at the start of the game had anybody said that we'll lose to India by five runs, I think anybody would take it, so I think we got ourselves in an opportunity where we're could have beaten India but we were not able to cross the line. But having come to close, I think the boys gained a lot of confidence.

I think eventually just by losing by five runs, the boys just -- I think everyone was disappointed in the dressing room that they could not cross the line, and they realised what a golden opportunity that they missed.

It's a great learning for them. I think it gives the team a lot of self-belief that if you can challenge a team like India and come so close, we are not far away.

Q. Tomorrow might be your last match with Bangladesh. Have you said anything or talked with BCB about this?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: Again, one game at a time, one tournament at a time. My goal is now just to -- we want to finish the World Cup on a good note, so my focus is only on that. I haven't thought about too far ahead.

Q. Just wanted to know, you've been with Australia. You've worked with the Australian cricket team, as well. Do you think that except India, Bangladesh and Pakistan do not play T20 in a style which is required like blasting, aggression, etc?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: I think in Australia, we don't need that kind of approach. Teams like West Indies which have the power didn't even qualify. I mean, in Australia I think our approach needs to defer to different parts of the world. We just got to adapt, learn, and I don't think there is a particular format to play a T20 game. The wickets, the conditions dictate everything, and we've got to be prepared for everything I feel. There's no one size fits all in T20 cricket.

Q. Are you satisfied with this tournament, the result?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: This is the best tournament Bangladesh has ever had in a T20 World Cup. We've never won two games in Super 12s in the history of Bangladesh cricket, so we've done that, so I think the boys should be proud of themselves.

Q. You said that it gives a mental boost from the Indian match. Don't you think that again and again, Bangladesh lost a couple of close matches against India, that is also a mental setback for the team?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: I think it's a fresh start. We are looking, and I don't know what happened in the past. Again, I have not been there at all. We won two very close games against Netherlands and Zimbabwe. We lost a close game to India, but that happens. I think I'm looking at it as a fresh start. I have not dwelled too much on the past and I've not been there, so I can't comment.

Q. You have played Pakistan a couple of times recently in New Zealand, so what are the areas that you're trying to attack them, or what are the areas you think you can stop Pakistan from doing?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: I think they're a very good side. We had opportunities in both games that we played against them in New Zealand. We are aware of their strengths and they're aware of what our strengths are, so it will be a great contest tomorrow.

Q. Do you believe that you can make it to the semifinal? If all equations go right, do you think you can beat Pakistan tomorrow?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: We believe we can beat Pakistan, but qualifying to the semi-finals is not in our hands, unfortunately.