ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2022

October 29, 2022

Sridharan Sriram

The Gabba

Bangladesh

Pre Match Media Conference

Q. In the last World Cup, eventually you found yourself in the winning camp. At the point of this tournament, where do you find yourself?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: I think it's very good that we won the first game in the Super 12 after 15 years is it? 2007? I think it's fantastic.

I think if anybody deserved it, it was this group of boys for the effort that they have put in, and full credit to them.

Q. Where do you want to see yourself at the end of this World Cup?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: I told you this before, we want to take one game at a time. We're not thinking too far ahead. Our next challenge is Zimbabwe.

Q. After the heavy defeat last match, how is the team environment and morale, and what was your message to the boys?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: I think the morale is very good. We realise South Africa played really well on that day. They were very strong.

Rilee Rossouw at No. 3 gives them that sort of power that is one of the world's best at the moment. So we came across an innings from two really quality players in Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw, and we'll take our learnings from that.

Q. Zimbabwe played outstanding cricket against Pakistan. What is the plan to destroy them in this go?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: I don't think I need to -- we definitely have a plan. But I think we respect Zimbabwe, their amazing performance again Pakistan. We watched each and every ball of it, and the way they pulled it off against Pakistan is unbelievable. Full credit to them, respect.

Q. While teams like Zimbabwe -- coming back to victory is a big thing for cricket in general. How much of a challenge does it get -- at the time you are not in the best position at the league table; you are suddenly finding yourselves an underdog team like Zimbabwe. How much of a challenge is it for the team because you still have a long way to go to stay afloat in the league.

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: You're talking about this tournament?

Q. Yeah, yeah.

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: Yeah, I think we'll take it one game at a time. We can't look at the points table. We can't think too far ahead, nor can we dwell on what happened. I think it's about staying really calm in the moment, being really clear with our plans, focus on our execution on that day, take one game at a time, one ball at a time and small little phases of the game. I think if we win those small little phases, we'll definitely put on a good show.

Q. Before starting the World Cup, we started several experiments, especially in the opening pair and also in some other sectors. Would you mind telling us about your satisfaction regarding the opening pair? How is it going? Are you satisfied? And the other things you experimented, are all the things working perfectly?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: I think so. I mean, you're still on the opening pair, eh? Good for you. I think it's good. We got 47 first game, we were 26 for no loss in two overs against South Africa. The opening pair looks settled.

I think it's giving them more game time, more experience, and the more they play together, the more they play against different opposition in different conditions, they will learn it's about kicking on, and they will learn that.

That's what very good players like Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw do. The ones that get a start, they're able to go on and make that impact that we talk about. I think it's a learning process for both Shanto and Soumya, and I think they'll do it.

Q. A lot of expectation from you when you joined Bangladesh team a short time, especially the World Cup mission. But we have not ever seen brilliant cricket, super cricket from the Bangladesh team. How did the problem of your team, players and others?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: I think what is your expectation? I think we are building a side, and I think we've done really well in building the side. The confidence of the boys, they know where they stand in world cricket, and that is reality for them. They know where they stand. They know where they want to go. I think there's absolute clarity, and I think that is the base that we can set in such a short time. I think we've set that base really well.

I think it's up to you what expectations you have, but as from a team point of view, we are very clear on the expectations that we have on ourselves. We want to build this side for the future, and I think we've got a good set of boys. We've got the sill sets. If we can add a couple of more skill sets here and there, I think we can build a really good T20 team for the future.

Q. Against South Africa it was a heavy defeat. Normally what we have seen previously after a heavy defeat, any team goes narrowly down. Against Zimbabwe, how important is the mental boost-up for the Bangladesh boys? What is your message to the boys before this match after the heavy defeat to South Africa?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: Australia lost to New Zealand and beat Sri Lanka the next game. What more do you want? That's an example we can take.

I think in tournament play there's no place for emotions. I think one day you can have a bad day, you can bounce back the next day really strong, and I think that's what the boys know in tournament play. I think you have to put behind whether you win massively or you lose massively, it's gone. I think you wake up the next day, train, travel and play. I think nothing changes from our side. We still know what our plans are. We still train as hard as we can. We had the travel to deal with.

So I think we are ready for the next game.

Q. In the last two games, we got a very good start, especially in batting, bowling, in both, but we cannot continue or swing wrong, and what's your expectations for the next match is that if we get a very good start how we have to get it?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: We've spoken about it. We've spoken about it. The boys know.

I think two different scenarios. The first game we were batting first; we had a good start. I think Shakib was a bit unlucky not to clear the fence. These things happen. In the last game we were chasing a massive score, and the scoreboard pressure was too much on the boys, so they know it.

I think it's about, as I said, dicing the game into small little parts, win small little moments in the game and win the next two, three overs, and I think take it from there, and that's how the boys will learn. Good decisions for longer.

Q. Coach, just wanted to know how you assess how you bowled in the last match in terms of the last five overs, how different it was from the first 15 overs? I'm sure you have a sense that you were also aggressive with the bowlers. So what would be your assessment of those five overs, and how do you tell them to maintain that in the next match maybe?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: It was really good, wasn't it. The changes of pace were there. They used the dimensions of the ground. They used the conditions very well, bowled into the pitch. Once you get into the pitch, the ball was stopping a little bit. It was hard to clear the boundaries.

Again, as I said, that shows the quality of innings that Rilee Rossouw played, also. It wasn't easy for someone like Miller or anybody to come and go straight away. Even when India batted, Rohit and Virat took their time initially before going.

That really shows what a quality innings that Rilee Rossouw and Quinton de Kock played, and credit to both of them, I think.

Q. Zimbabwe is a very frequent opponent of Bangladesh. They've played each other a number of times, but recently obviously Zimbabwe is doing quite well. Still does the frequency of matches give an advantage to your players, that they know what they're going to face?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: I would assume so. I have never been a part of a Zimbabwe-Bangladesh clash, so I'm not going to comment on that, how frequently we play, but I think the boys are well prepared. They know their opposition. I think knowing their opposition is one thing we will really stress on. We do our homework, and we pride ourselves on that, and I think the boys know their opposition very well.

Q. After losing to South Africa in the last match, batting coach Jamie Siddons came to the mixed zone and he said that the reason behind losing to South Africa was batters kept trying hitting sixes and they are not big hitters, so they should change themselves so they should be smarter now. What is the definition of smartness here to be successful?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: The dimensions of the ground. You've got to know -- it's very different to playing in the subcontinent or very different to playing even in some places like New Zealand. Australia brings with it its own challenges. I think we spoke about that in the first press conference, about the dimensions.

Some grounds are diagonally big, some grounds have big side boundaries, some have straight but long boundaries, straight. I think playing around with the dimensions and knowing the batters' strengths, hitting pockets and hitting boundaries are important, and I think Jamie has spoken to the boys about that.

Q. You just spoke about that Shakib was unlucky not to clear the fence that day. All the years being the captain, the team revolves around him. How much of a challenge is it for the players and the support staff when your top performer is having a little hot and cold kind of form? What do you make of it?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: He's just gotten world No. 1 allrounder, so he's had a fantastic series in New Zealand, and he's just had two innings. I think it was the right shot at that time because a small boundary against a legspinner, 99 times out of 100 you'll hit that for six. If that had gone for six -- even in the last game, he was unlucky not to review, ball pitched outside of the leg-stump. What do you make of that with a great player like Shakib Al Hasan had two unlucky dismissals? I think he's up for the contest here.

Q. What kind of condition are you expecting in Gabba, with the wicket they have here?

SRIDHARAN SRIRAM: The wicket looks a typical Gabba wicket. It'll have good pace, bounce and carry. Maybe a little bit of initial movement early on, but I think a very good batting wicket, fast outfield, value for shots. You get value for shots here. If you can time the ball into pockets. It'll be a good game, a high-scoring, 160, 170 kind of game.