"As a batting side we have done well in the last 4 or 5 matches" : Mashrafe Mortaza

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Q. Bangladesh have a knack of beating England in global tournaments. Are you confident you can beat them again?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: You're asking about 2015?

Q. Yeah, and 2011, they won, as well.
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: No, look, it was a long time back. And after then, England is a totally different team. The way they are playing, if you look at the last two years, their performance, they win almost everything. And especially in home, they are a serious side.

You just can't say that, we are going to do that. But we know that we are also a better side; that we are a very improving side. Also, we are playing the last two or three years, pretty much good cricket.

Yes, overseas has always been a challenge. Not for us, for all teams. Overseas always been a challenge. I hope that this time we'll play at our best, because this is the first time we play Champions Trophy; it's well deserved. So I guess that the boys are very, very excited and they deliver their best.

Q. You've been on this journey with Bangladesh for quite a long time. You've made a lot of progress as a side. What's been the biggest factor in your improvement as a team, and how much more improvement can this nation achieve?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Look, first thing that we have some experience playing the side. This is the first thing. If you look at our side, at least four or five players have been playing cricket together the last ten, 12 years, more than ten, 12 years. That is the most important thing.

Other things that also, we have some exciting youngsters has been included on our side like Mustafizur and Sabbir Rahman Taskin Ahmed, those players are also in our side.

And the combination is very good in the last two or three years. That's why I think our cricket, is moving in the right direction. And obviously going further, I think we have to continue the good things, the way we are doing.

And obviously overseas, when it comes to overseas like this year, we are playing almost every series in overseas. So if you can improve a little bit, that confidence will build up, and later on, we never know, we'll move from there, as well.

Q. Yesterday you were bowled out for 84 on the same ground. How damaging is that for your confidence going into tomorrow's game?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Look, definitely we don't want to. You know, 84 obviously doesn't look good. But if you look at last five, four matches, as well, in Ireland and especially in here, as well, against Pakistan, Pakistan is a good bowling side.

So I think the that batting-wise we did well, especially in Ireland, and the last four, five matches I guess. Yes, last match wasn't that good, but I hope that batters will understand their role and not to think about much about yesterday.

But obviously you have to think what the mistake was, so I think we can handle tomorrow especially.

Q. How surprised have you been about England's improvement since you beat them in Adelaide 15 months ago, and do you feel it's possible to beat them again tomorrow?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: No, beating tomorrow, you can't say like that. I mean, I can't answer that, that I can beat tomorrow. But the thing is that we all know that on a given day we can beat anybody. But we have to start well; if you can start well, then things will come easier.

There will be a lot of pressure, but I think we can cope up. Also, if you go back to the England side, I think they also feel more pressure than us, because they want the trophy. Especially this is happening in their home.

So it's both sides, there is a little bit of pressure, but who can cope up, they will perform their best.

Q. England will start as many people's favourites to win the tournament, and Virat Kohli is coming to the country and he said they looked like a team that don't have any weaknesses. Do you see them as a team that don't have any weaknesses are they justified as being favourites?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Look, because the way they are playing the last two years that's why everyone is expecting that this time England will be the most favourite one.

I feel the weaknesses, every match you can't play that you are favourite, even though sometimes you will lose. But almost England have -- this time, they have good all-around side. They have good batting side. They have good bowling side. Overall, that's why people think that they are the best side, especially in this tournament.

Also, they are playing in their home. So most of the ground, they know how much good is good enough and how much you have to chase. So they will know better than others.

So I think that's why people are asking that England will be the best side. But again, it's cricket and anything can happen in the game. So you never know.

Q. England seem to have quite a few different match winners, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Jos Buttler. Which England player gives you the most concern? Which one are you worried about most?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: All 11. England, very good side, man. I mean, Joe Root is there and Jason Roy -- there is Root. Obviously captain Eoin Morgan is in good form, Stokes, Buttler. I mean, you can figure out anyone. If you are going to win, you have to play well in every department.

Q. What encourages you most in the belief that your team can win tomorrow? Where do you see your side winning the game?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: First thing that we played well recently. Recent past we played good cricket. Obviously I told you that overseas is different for us, but still, no, we just recently beat New Zealand in Ireland. Also loss to New Zealand, yes, we couldn't win any matches, but the thing is, we played really good cricket. Just we couldn't finish well, that's it.

And the experienced players we have, if you get that opportunity to close this match, I hope that this time we don't do any mistakes. So we just want a good start and later on, let's see what happens.

Q. Can you give us an idea of the expectations that you guys will have at home? It's a big cricketing public, very passionate about cricket. What are they expecting from you?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Yeah, there is a lot of expectation. People start that this time we will take the Champions Trophy home (laughing). There is a lot of expectation. But we have to understand where we are, and the main thing is that we are progressing or not. Little by little, we are coming up. We are starting from ten to nine, now seven, eight, now six.

So that means that the graph is coming up. So that's most important to me, and this trophy, there is a lot of hope, but realistically, we have to play at our best to be honest.

 

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Speaking after loss to England in 1st game:


Q. Do you think in hindsight that maybe picking eight batsmen maybe undermined your bowling a little bit today?

MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Yeah, always you knew that, but the thing was that to get an extra bit of freedom to two batters, the batters can respond themselves a little bit better. I think batters also batted really well.

Yes, we could have pick one more bowler, but the sense was that.

Q. Do you feel that your fitness is 100 per cent at the moment, all the players?

MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Look, last month or so, we keep playing and we have been having camp in Brighton and then we have been to Ireland. Yes, boys playing a lot of eight or nine matches with all practice matches. But I think bowlers, the players feel well. They haven't complained yet. I think boys all feel pretty good.

Q. In the hindsight, do you think a score of 300-odd was enough, or were you aiming for like 330 or 340 on that pitch?

MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Yeah, I think so. I mean, that's why -- but still, I think in the middle patches, we couldn't get any wickets, that's also a point.

Yes, obviously with eight batters, we are in a great position to score 330, 340. But we couldn't. We lost too many wickets in the late order. From 40, 42, we start losing wickets, and really no one can go through.

Q. Related to that, the last six holes, you could manage about 46 runs. Do you think that's where Bangladesh could have made like 30, 40 more runs?

MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Yeah, I think so. I know Tamim -- after Tamim get out, Mushfiqur, the next ball, he get out. So two second -- get out together, that was the problem for us. And obviously, still we have Mahmudullah and Sabbir Rahman and a few more batters was there, Sarkar. But we couldn't really go through that seven, six, seven overs, and I think we are 20 to 30 runs short, especially that sort of wicket.

Q. Tamim seemed to be convinced that he had planned to catch on Eoin Morgan, and he was quite angry he wasn't given; what was your view on that catch?

MASHRAFE MORTAZA: We haven't seen yet. We just came out from the field. But you know, end of the day, the call is final. So we can't make any call.

Q. Was it the biggest support that you've had in England, ever?

MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Yes, I know in London, a lot of Bangladeshis, so we knew that they will come and support us. Not only here, we get a lot of support the last World Cup. And even wherever, last year, we played in Ireland, we get the same sort of support. But a lot of Bangladeshis lives here and we knew that they could come.

Pity we couldn't go through today, but thanks to them that they come and support us.

 

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5 June, London – Bangladesh – Mashrafe Mortaza post-match press conference

Q. You have played England and Australia. Who do you think is a better unit, and what are the differences in the two teams?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Look, we played against Australia first time since in 2011 and obviously knew that this team is difficult. Australia was on top today with their bowling, and except Tamim, nobody go through.

But I think still they are in the tournament, so see what happens.

Q. Just the difference between England and Australia?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Difference between England and Australia? I think Australian pace is obviously different. I think Australia have some quality fast bowlers. Obviously England have, as well. But Australia maybe have a little bit of extra pace -- as we have seen today. Mitchell Starc comes and took four straightaway and finished that game. Could have got like 230, 240, if Tamim can go through, but he didn't.

So I think both side is equal, but with the fast bowling, I think extra bit of pace can change (game).

Q. What we've seen in the last two games that you've played here, the appetite there is for Bangladeshi cricket in this country with the fans that have come out to watch you play, do you think it's strange that given the interest in Bangladesh here, that you haven't been invited for a full tour since 2010?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: I think in England, we knew that the support will come and a lot of fans will come and support us, basically today, as well. The last match we got a lot of support, and we are expecting the next match, as well.

Q. You've been thrown a bit of a lifeline I guess here with a point from the no result, but can you take advantage of that, beat New Zealand and get into the semis?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Well, you never know. I think even in 2015 World Cup, we got one point from Australia and go through, it really help us. This time we have a chance. You never know. Straightaway, we have to beat New Zealand and obviously we have to wait for a few result, as well. So our job is to play hard against New Zealand and if we can go through, then you never know.

Q. Smith said that he got away with one against New Zealand with the rain. Do you feel today that you had a bit of luck on your side? Do you feel like you were fortunate?
MASHRAFE MORTAZA: Yeah, obviously if you look at today's match, I think Australia was far ahead than us, and if you look at last match against New Zealand and Australia, I think Australia, also, in the same position.

So no, you can't do anything with weather. As I said that both teams are now in the situation that Australia has to win against England and we have a great chance to beat New Zealand and go through.