Driven to Victory: The Winning Mindset of Hridoy

Bangladesh’s middle-order batsman, Towhid Hridoy, emphasized that the team focused on securing a victory over Hong Kong instead of risking their lead with aggressive shots during the chase.

Prior to their first game against Hong Kong, discussions centered around net run rate following Afghanistan’s commanding 94-run win over Hong Kong. With Sri Lanka also participating, run-rate might be critical if three teams tie on points at the end of the group stage.

After their opener, Bangladesh fell behind Afghanistan in net run rate by 3.699 points, following their seven-wicket victory over Hong Kong with 14 balls remaining as they pursued 144. Hridoy contributed 35 off 36 balls, hitting only one boundary but remaining steadfast at the crease as Litton Das took the lead.

“We could have concluded the game sooner, but adhered to the situation’s requirements. Our goal is always to win,” Hridoy stated. “We wanted to ensure the match stayed in our hands. We attempted to finish early, but I struggled with connections. Ultimately, winning outweighs shaving off an over or two.”

“Our aim is to overcome Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, so we aren’t currently concerned with run-rate. We want to avoid complicating things at this early stage,” he added.

“I believe we played clever cricket. Though we could have concluded the match two or three overs earlier, we might have lost additional wickets, which is why prioritizing partnerships is essential. We sought more boundaries, but it didn’t materialize,” he mentioned.

Hridoy also noted that facing teams like Hong Kong can be challenging, as they aren’t well-known opponents.

“Anything’s possible in T20 cricket. Whether it’s Hong Kong China or any team, they can excel on a given day. We approach every team with the same mindset on the field.

“It was somewhat tricky. The ball had a grip. We aren’t accustomed to playing on such wickets but adapted well, especially against an unfamiliar team,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong captain Yasim Murtaza acknowledged they were 20 to 30 runs short.

“We were 20 to 30 runs short,” Murtaza admitted. “I’m satisfied with the batters but would have preferred if one reached 60 to 70 runs to provide us with a substantial total.”

“They formed a solid partnership and took the game away from us,” he concluded.