Everyone was hungry to win: Tamim Iqbal

Bangladesh were hammered in the two-match Test series and three-match T20I series against West Indies but have managed to turn things around in the 50-over format.     

The visitors, on Wednesday (July 13), slammed Nicholas Pooran and Co. by nine wickets in the second ODI and have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game series. 

Bangladesh are without Shakib al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Yasir Ali but skipper Tamim Iqbal said they were hungry to win the series after their dismal performance in the other two formats.

"Look we were missing three players of the playing XI and certainly it had an impact on the confidence of the team but our team did not make us feel (their absence)," he said.

"Everyone was hungry to win. When we failed despite trying in Tests and T20Is, we always tried to win in the ODIs. And this was not only me, but all the other 15 members were the same and probably it is the result of their wish (to win). 

“This is one format (ODIs) we are very comfortable and we played a lot of matches. In Bangladesh, the Dhaka Premier League (the country's traditional list A tournament) is the most competitive tournament and it could be one of the reasons. Apart from that, where there is a result (positive) the environment is different.”

Bangladesh bundled out West Indies for just 108 in the second encounter before Tamim Iqbal crafted a steady unbeaten 50 to propel his team to their biggest win away from home while chasing. Bangladesh have played 23 ODIs under Tamim’s captaincy and have won 14 of those encounters.

“I am still learning (as a captain) and trying to adapt to different situations. I am certainly confident and if that was not the case I wouldn't be doing it. The day I feel I am unable to do my job properly I will step down on my own but until then, everything is going fine.

"Look whether you win against England, New Zealand or Zimbabwe, and though there are differences in rankings, we have to work very hard to play because who is scoring a century puts his hard labour and the same thing goes with someone who is picking five wickets. So every win is special. 

“Like the way we celebrate a win against Australia we should do the same when we win against Zimbabwe because in international cricket no team will let you win easily and you will have to fight to earn a win and so we should celebrate after each win,"

Tamim opened the batting with Najmul Hossain Shanto instead of Liton Das and it was the latter who made the suggestion with West Indies possessing two left-arm spinners - Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie - in their arsenal. 

"To open with Shanto was a brilliant call by Liton I must say. At the break he (Liton) came to me and said if you two open how will that be, because he felt left-arm spinners were their major strength and I think it was a wonderful call," said Tamim. 

"The ball was spinning a lot and it would be difficult for the right-handed batsman. When me and Shanto went to bat we were saying that even if we can't score runs there is no problem off their (spinners) overs are completed we still have 30 overs left.

"We had a fantastic partnership of 48 runs and though it looks small, but on this wicket it is like a 100-run partnership. I thought we did it. Shanto batted well during his time at the crease and you should not judge a player by seeing him on this wicket because the wicket was very difficult. It (Guyana wicket) is worse than Mirpur. On this wicket, you don't know when you will get out."

Talking about not playing Taskin Ahmed, Tamim said: "I think Taskin was very unfortunate as he was bowling really well but when we came to see the wicket yesterday we thought we probably need one more spinner plus if we have an extra batsman it would be better because in this kind of wicket you can lose few back-to-back wickets because the ball spins too much. That is the reason we made the change (picking Mossadek Hossain).

"For me what is important that we can see our bench strength and see the players who are not making it into the playing XI considering when we are playing for points (ICC Super League). As we have clinched the series I think we should give chance to others. Even if that means I don't play one or two matches. If I don't see the bench strength now when will I see that?"