Bangladesh once again let themselves down in the pursuit of a multi-team trophy as the 'A' side suffered heartbreak in the Super Over against Pakistan in the final of the Asia Cup Rising Stars in Doha, Qatar on Sunday. Despite the defeat, Bangladesh 'A' head coach David Hemp remained positive about the team's overall performance and their journey throughout the tournament. He shared his reflections in a conversation with The Daily Star's Samsul Arefin Khan. The excerpts are as follows:
The Daily Star (DS): You must be disappointed with how things ended on Sunday. How would you describe the team's campaign?
David Hemp (DH): Getting to the final was a fantastic effort from the boys. Of course, it was disappointing not to get over the line. Losing in a Super Over is always tough. We had put ourselves in a strong position with the ball, but from a batting point of view, we probably let ourselves down with a couple of soft dismissals. That said, the cricket we played throughout the tournament was exciting. We played positively and beat some very good teams on our way to the final. Unfortunately, we just couldn't produce a complete performance on Sunday.
DS: You were in a tough group and still made it to the knockouts. Some players performed well -- Habibur Rahman Sohan is the third highest run-scorer and Ripon Mondol finished as the highest wicket-taker with 11 wickets. How do you rate these performances?
DH: The big takeaway is that Bangladesh cricket got some very skilled players coming through the system. They just need more exposure, and tournaments like this are perfect for that. Ripon and Sohan had excellent tournaments, but there were strong contributions from many others too. Akbar Ali led the side exceptionally well. There are plenty of positives to take. We beat India in the semifinal -- a very strong side with a lot of experience, including IPL experience. We also beat Afghanistan, last year's champions. So, Bangladesh should focus on these positives instead of only looking at the negatives just because we lost the final.
DS: What are your observations about Abdul Gaffar Saqlain? He performed well throughout.
DH: It was his first time playing outside Bangladesh, and I think we can be too critical of players too quickly. He has shown genuine skills and the ability to play at this level. He's a smart cricketer, has good variations with the ball, and yesterday [Sunday] he even showed talent with the bat. He's another player who needs time, investment, and opportunities -- especially at the 'A' team level -- to build on these skills, as do a few others.
DS: Why was he chosen ahead of specialist batters for the Super Over in the final?
DH: He had just hit two straight sixes and showed great clarity in a high-pressure situation where we needed 25 or 26 to win. His shot selection was excellent, and he remained calm. That's why he was picked -- he had shown composure and was striking the ball very well.
DS: How do you rate Ripon Mondol's performance?
DH: For about 95 percent of his spells, he has been outstanding. He's been smart with his decisions, and importantly, he's executed those decisions well. That's where his consistency has improved -- having the right plan and being able to execute it. It's not just about taking wickets. The way he bowled created pressure and opportunities. He should be very pleased with his performances.
DS: Bangladesh had never played a Super Over in men's cricket before last month, and now you've played three -- one against West Indies at home and then two back-to-back in the Rising Stars tournament. Do you think the team still lacks composure in such situations?
DH: Super Overs are becoming more common around the world. The best players and teams stay calm and clear about what they want to do, even in a Super Over. Some players get overwhelmed instead of sticking to their processes. The other solution is practice. At HP, we do practice Super Over scenarios, but overall, I don't think it's practiced enough across the board. With the rise of T20 cricket, teams need to know who their impact players are for these situations. If you're chasing 12 in the last over of a match, it's essentially the same as needing 12 in a Super Over. It's about mindset. The perceived additional pressure doesn't help, but practicing those situations will help players stay calmer.
DS: What can Bangladesh take away from this tournament?
DH: The players selected this year showed they can compete with very strong international players. Now, they need as much exposure at this level as possible, though there are budget constraints. Selectors should look at the players coming through and recognise that several have put their names forward for future consideration. The more competition you create by exposing players to this kind of cricket, the easier the selectors' job becomes. You want players tested at a high level before they enter the national team -- not learning on the job. Ideally, they should go into the national setup having already been challenged at 'A' team level.