We are far behind good teams when it comes to T20Is: Liton Das

Bangladesh have the worst scoring rate (6.8) in T20Is amongst the top-10 ranked teams and opener Liton Das feels they will have to improve their power-hitting ability if they want to compete in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia. Bangladesh lost 0-2 to West Indies in a three-match series, with one encounter getting washed out. 

"I think in today's game we had some problem as far as the bowling unit's execution is concerned but at the same time you have to give credit to Pooran and Mayers for the way they batted and they hit some good balls too," Liton, who scored 49 off 41, said after the third T20I.

"This is their plus point they play power cricket that we can't and at times it works in the head of the bowlers that they can get hit if it is slightly this way or that way and it have an impact on our bowlers."

Bangladesh managed 163/5 in their 20 overs but Kyle Mayers (38-ball 55) and West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran (39-ball 74*) had little trouble hunting down the total. "If I talk about Mayers they are genetically very powerful and that is not the case with me or other members of our team. 

"They can hit sixes whenever they want to which many members of our team are not capable of and we always think to hit fours while we are batting and you can see that we hit maximum boundaries while they hit sixes and this difference is always there.

"We are far behind good teams when it comes to T20Is and we have to work on different areas, especially as I said we cannot play powerful cricket. Lot of people say T20 is a game of skill along with technique and tactics but I feel there are times when power-hitting is very necessary. 

"I think we are far behind in this aspect (power hitting) and where we will play the World Cup the ground will be big so this (lack of power hitting ability) will make us suffer and if we can practice and play games then we can take good confidence in the World Cup."

Liton said it was largely because of the top-order Bangladesh couldn't compete with West Indies. "Honestly, we did not bat well. Neither we batted well in the opening game nor did we do well in the second game except for Shakib bhai. 

"I think the conditions were batting friendly and if we batsmen at the top like me, Bijoy bhai and Munim when he played could contribute and fulfill our role then batsmen down the order could have expressed themselves freely. I think due to our (top-order batting failure) we could not catch up."