The Bangladesh 'A' team returned to the country after losing the Asia Cup Rising Stars final to Pakistan Shaheens. The Akbar Ali-led side were involved in two Super Over finishes – first in the semifinals against India and then the final against Pakistan. The skipper felt that the teams in the tournament were not used to Super Over.
Bangladesh batter Jishan Alam's tactical game sense came under scrutiny as he attempted a wild whack with four Super Over deliveries remaining in the final, only to see his stumps shattered, leaving Bangladesh with three unused deliveries.
"No team is used to Super Overs and it happens very rarely. Two Super Overs in two consecutive games are very rare. In Super Over, you have to play high-risk shots and sometimes it clicks and other times it doesn't. That how I see the matter," Akbar told reporters at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport following the team's return on Tuesday morning.
Bangladesh 'A' were in trouble in chase of 126-run target in the final against Pakistan before Abdul Gaffar Saqlain and Ripon Mondol staged an impressive partnership to tie the game and take the match to the Super Over. In the Super Over, despite a bye four, Bangladesh lost Saqlain and Jishan quickly.
Akbar defended sending Habibur Rahman Sohan and Saqlain in the Super Over. "Sohan was our best batter in the whole tournament which is why he was sent in the Super Over and Saqlain was in very good touch in the match."
"The players and the coaching staff are a bit disappointed, given from where we came back into the game. To lose in the Super Over was disappointing. We tried our best but it didn't happen. Altogether, we played good cricket in majority of the games," Akbar, a former U-19 World Cup winning captain, opined.
Akbar, himself had erred comically in the semifinal against India, where instead of running in to take off the bails, he proceeded to throw the ball from a close distance, leading to an extra run that in the final delivery which took the match to Super Over. He had no answer to that brain fade moment.
"I don't know what happened and I don't have any explanation for why I did that. But the mistake I made, even U-12s won't make that."