Unexpected Strategy: Akeal Stunned by Rishad’s Absence in Super Over

West Indies’ left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein expressed surprise at Bangladesh’s decision not to have Rishad Hossain bat in the Super Over of the second ODI. Akeal’s effective bowling helped West Indies defend 11 runs, thus keeping them in the series.

Bangladesh chose to send Saif Hasan and Soumya Sarkar, followed by Nazmul Hossain, who couldn’t clinch the win. Rishad’s absence was unexpected as he had earlier scored 39 off 14 balls, aiding Bangladesh in surpassing 200 runs.

“Yes, I was a bit surprised not to see Rishad in the Super Over,” Akeal stated. “He was destructive during the match, scoring 39 off 14, yet didn’t appear in the Super Over—even when hitting towards the shorter side where he had hit two sixes.”

“We were all surprised he didn’t come out, but it worked in our favor. Rishad was one of the few players with power and reach due to his height,” he added.

Akeal, who joined the team just before the game, was pleased to contribute despite a hectic schedule. “I don’t think I have anything left in me,” said Akeal. “I reached the hotel at 4 AM, but once committed, you must give 100%. I nearly messed up, but fortunately, I helped the team win.”

“I’ve been in similar situations before, like during The Hundred’s Eliminator. I bowled a no-ball initially and faced pressure but Chris Jordan’s belief encouraged me. His confidence made me believe I could get through it, which I have, winning the game for my team,” he shared.

“The pitch is tricky, not turning much but it’s bouncy. Against left-handers, I aimed for square shots due to the bowler’s shorter boundary and kept a good length close-in to limit big hits,” Akeal explained.

Akeal also noted the black pitch and highlighted the achievement of West Indies’ spinners bowling all 50 overs. Akeal, Roston Chase, Khary Pierre, Gudakesh Motie, and Alick Athanaze completed their 10-over quotas, while the lone pacer, Justin Greaves, wasn’t utilized.

Sri Lanka’s record for the most spin-overs was surpassed, which they achieved against West Indies in 1996, New Zealand in 1998, and Australia in 2004.

Akeal speculated on the unchanged pitch for the series decider: “Based on its nature, it wouldn’t be effective for fast bowlers. Our spinners, including Alick Athanaze, displayed discipline, which is vital on such surfaces.”

“Athanaze was efficient, adhering to plans and maintaining stump-to-stump discipline. Choosing the best team for the conditions is crucial, just as today we used a left-right combination to secure victory,” Akeal remarked.

“Despite the pitch’s spinner-friendly traits, it requires precision due to limited error margins. However, good cricket remains the ultimate aim,” he mentioned, highlighting enjoyment for both bowling and batting.

“Breaking records with 50 spin-overs is unprecedented,” he noted, adding his initial confusion over the TV’s color settings when he first saw the black pitch during the series opener.