In a crucial Asia Cup match held in Lahore, Bangladesh showcased their finest cricketing skills. After a rocky start where they lost two early wickets during the powerplay, leaving them struggling at 63/2, makeshift opener Mehidy Hasan Miraz and the in-form Najmul Hossain Shanto delivered a remarkable batting performance, forming an unbeaten partnership of 194 runs.
Despite the favorable batting conditions, Afghanistan had few opportunities to break through. However, their inexperience became evident when game-changing moments arose in the 39th over. Gulabdin Naib faced Shanto, who was batting at 87. Naib managed to deceive Shanto with a slower delivery clocking just 91 kph.
Shanto attempted a powerful shot but failed to connect properly, sending the ball seemingly into a fielder’s hands. However, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, stationed at long-on, misjudged the ball’s flight and reached it a moment too late, allowing it to drop in front of him. Naib, visibly frustrated, let out a loud scream in response to this missed opportunity.
Two balls later, Mujeeb repeated his mistake. Shanto played a shot towards deep midwicket for an easy single, but Mujeeb fumbled the ball, enticing Shanto to attempt another run. This error initially trapped Shanto in the middle of the pitch, but then Mujeeb made matters worse with a wayward throw that sailed over Naib’s head, positioned by the stumps.
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These missed chances ultimately enabled Shanto to achieve his century, putting Bangladesh in an excellent position to secure a match-winning total. Understandably, Mujeeb faced criticism from both the cricketing community on Twitter and his own teammates for his costly errors.