Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan believes accountability and application will be key as the team prepares to bounce back from a dramatic collapse in the first ODI against Sri Lanka. The Tigers suffered a 77-run defeat at the R. Premadasa Stadium, crumbling from a strong position in a chase that had looked well within reach.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s must-win second ODI, Tanzid , who top-scored with a fluent 62 off 61 deliveries , said the team had a long and honest discussion following the defeat and collectively agreed on one clear message: “Bat long, bat deep.”
“I don’t think I played well,” Tanzid said during Friday’s pre-match press conference. “I didn’t fulfill the team’s requirements. If I had, then I could have said I played well. But I couldn’t finish the job.”
He acknowledged that the turning point came after his promising partnership with Najmul Hossain Shanto was broken by a brilliant catch, followed by a run-out that swung the momentum decisively in Sri Lanka’s favour.
“We were building a good partnership,” he said. “If we could have added 30-40 more runs, the match would have been much easier. Unfortunately, things changed very quickly.”
The 22-year-old opener emphasised the importance of set batters finishing games, especially on wickets like Premadasa’s, where scoring becomes increasingly difficult for new batters as the innings progresses.
“The way the wicket is behaving, if someone gets set, he needs to play a long innings and take the team home,”he explained. “Me and Shanto bhai, the way we were batting at that time if we could have stayed another 10-15 overs, the match would have been much easier.”
Tanzid revealed that the team had a detailed meeting with the coaching staff, where they were advised to focus on preserving set batters, particularly in the middle overs when Sri Lanka’s premier leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is typically deployed.
“On a wicket like this, new batters struggle to adjust. Their spinners, especially Hasaranga, are top quality. Those who get set need to take responsibility and bat deep,” he said.
Tanzid also highlighted a tactical approach to counter Hasaranga, urging left-handers to dominate the strike during the middle overs, noting the leg-spinner’s comparative inefficiency against southpaws.
“Against Hasaranga, the left-hand batters need to take as much strike as possible since he is not as effective against left-handers,”he said. “That’s one of the key points we discussed, and hopefully, it will help us in the next match.”