Bangladesh faced disappointment in their Champions Trophy campaign, marked by poor batting performances, totaling only 228 and 236 in their two matches. Critic Wasim Jaffer highlighted the shortcomings of seasoned players like Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim, who made reckless dismissals in a must-win game against New Zealand. Jaffer noted the team’s batting effort was insufficient by 50-60 runs on a favorable pitch, while Shane Bond pointed out the potential in their bowling attack despite batting issues and missed fielding chances. Both emphasized the importance of clarity in gameplay and execution, expressing frustration over the team’s failure to rise in crucial moments.
Mahmudullah has a history of excelling in ICC tournaments, having scored consecutive centuries in the 2015 ODI World Cup and a century when Bangladesh triumphed over New Zealand in the 2017 Champions Trophy. However, he missed the first match due to injury and failed to perform in the second.
“The shot selection we witnessed today was quite disappointing,” Jaffer remarked. “Mushfiq [Mushfiqur] attempted a poor shot, and Mahmudullah played an erratic one. In a must-win game, you want your players to rise to the occasion and make a difference. Sadly, that’s the recurring narrative in ICC tournaments.”
Jaffer also believed that Bangladesh fell “50 to 60 runs short” on a Rawalpindi pitch that provided minimal assistance for bowlers.
“They could have easily posted over 300 on that pitch,” he stated. “They have only themselves to blame. It’s unreasonable to expect the bowling unit to bowl New Zealand out for less than 240.”
“I really like the look of their bowling attack,” Bond expressed. “They’ve got pace, and the left-armer [Mustafizur Rahman] is an asset that New Zealand and teams like England lack. The spinners are capable, too.”
“However, the fine margins… they missed key chances. Missing those run-out opportunities or dropped catches can be the difference between winning and losing. Had they capitalized on those moments, the outcome could have been entirely different. There’s definitely promise in their bowling attack, but in the end, their batting was the issue.”
Bond, who extensively coaches in the franchise T20 circuit, also noted that any coach would likely feel “a bit grumpy” after the type of performance Bangladesh displayed as their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign concluded.
“It’s natural for a coach to feel that way,” Bond said. “If you start discussing what shouldn’t be done and let emotions take over, it can lead to challenging situations. Thus, it’s vital to foster an environment where players feel encouraged to play positively and have clarity about how to approach the game.
“Ultimately, if they go out there to execute their game plan as intended and lose, that’s acceptable. But if they don’t, it complicates matters. As a player, you want to understand, ‘This is how the coach wants me to fulfill my role in the team. If I give my best, that’s what matters.’ Of course, some days will not go as planned, and we don’t have insight into the discussions within the Bangladesh camp, so forming judgments can be difficult.”