Former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed is the current spin consultant of Bangladesh. He shared his views ahead of Bangladesh's do-or-die clash against Afghanistan in the 2025 Asia Cup on Tuesday, September 16, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Bangladesh started their campaign with a seven-wicket win against Hong Kong. However, they lost their subsequent game to Sri Lanka by six wickets. A win on Tuesday will help the Litton Das-led side stay in contention for a spot in the Super-Four stage
of the tournament. However, they will still not be guaranteed a place as the other contenders, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, will play the last game in the group.
Mushtaq said that the Bangladesh coaching staff and management are trying to instil belief in the players ahead of the game against Afghanistan.
"You have to believe. The coaches and management keep telling the players that belief is very important. It's difficult, of course, having to rely on ifs and buts, but you have to concentrate on winning the match first," Mushtaq was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Asked about potential dangers to watch out for, Mushtaq was clear that it would be the Afghanistan spinners, led by their captain, Rashid Khan.
"Their spin department is very good, especially in the middle overs. If we can counter their spin well and put a decent score on the board, we can challenge them because our bowling unit is also strong. My main concern is the middle overs," Mushtaq said.
If they dwell on the past, their progress will be slow: Mushtaq
Mushtaq mentioned that the players are being urged to back their instincts and play aggressive cricket despite the batting struggles in recent times. Instead of worrying about the opposition's strengths, Mushtaq wants his side to play fearless cricket.
"Sometimes, early failures lead to losing four or five wickets quickly. We tell our batsmen that such things happen, but they must move on fast. If they dwell on the past, their progress will be slow. As coaches, our duty is to prevent them from going into a shell, maintain their confidence, and keep giving them belief. As I've said in press conferences, I emphasise on belief. I played with legends like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, and Wasim Akram. One lesson I learned from them is that if you don't believe you belong at the international level, you start over-respecting the opposition and forget your strengths," Mushtaq said.
"Even failure while playing aggressively makes you a stronger player. If coaches and management can instill that belief, the team can challenge any side. Players like Litton [Das], [Towhid] Hridoy, Tanzim [Hasan], Jaker and Shamim have shown that even when situations look tough, they can find momentum and score 170-180. With good fast bowlers and spinners, and if we get stronger as a team, we can challenge any team," he added.
