Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain stated that their team was initially aiming for a semi-final spot, but had to alter their strategy after losing early wickets in their crucial game against Afghanistan in Kingstown on Tuesday.
In the decisive Super 8 match, Bangladesh's bowlers managed to restrict Afghanistan to 115 for 5. To secure a place in the semi-finals, Bangladesh needed to chase down the target in 12.1 overs, which would have put them ahead of Afghanistan and Australia on Net Run Rate.
However, Bangladesh not only failed to reach the semi-finals but also couldn't surpass the other teams on NRR. After falling to 23 for 3, Bangladesh shifted their focus from chasing the semi-final berth to aiming for a consolation win.
Bangladesh ended their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign on a disappointing note, suffering another batting collapse that resulted in an eight-run defeat, allowing Afghanistan to advance to the semi-finals for the first time in their history.
Najmul explained their initial strategy and the subsequent change in plans. He expressed frustration over the poor decisions made by the batting unit. "We wanted to win the match and initially planned to achieve the target in 12.1 overs when we saw 115 runs on the board," Najmul told reporters after the loss. "However, the batting group made many poor decisions, leading to our frustration and disappointment."
Najmul further detailed that the plan was contingent on getting a good start in the power play. "The plan was to attempt the chase within 12.1 overs if we had a strong start. But losing three wickets early forced us to change our approach," he said. "The middle order's poor decision-making contributed to our defeat."
This was not the first instance where Bangladesh's batting woes cost them dearly. Despite reaching the Super 8 stage, their batting performances were consistently a concern. Najmul apologised to the fans, acknowledging that the batting unit failed to deliver their best.
"Firstly, I want to apologise to all the fans of Bangladesh who follow and support us. As a team, we let them down," Najmul stated. "Our batting group couldn't provide the best performance for our country. We are sorry for that."
He added, "As a batting unit, we disappointed our fans and our country. Despite our best efforts and honesty in our approach, we couldn't succeed. On behalf of the team, I apologise for our shortcomings."