"Afghanistan have won 2 matches" - Aakash Chopra says Bangladesh winning just 1 of their first 5 matches in 2023 World Cup is not a great story
Aakash Chopra has criticized Bangladesh for dishing out underwhelming performances in the 2023 World Cup even though the tournament is being played on familiar subcontinental pitches.
The Bangla Tigers allowed South Africa to post 382/5 after they opted to bat first in Mumbai on Tuesday, October 24. They were then bundled out for 233 to lose the game by a whopping 149 runs and drop to last spot in the points table.
Reviewing the game in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra pointed out that Bangladesh have won just one game in the ongoing World Cup thus far and that Afghanistan have fared better than them. He elaborated (3:20):
"Bangladesh's bowling looked extremely ordinary. A question will be asked because you have played five matches and won just one - not a great story. You have been playing Test cricket for such a long time."
The former India opener added:
"These are subcontinental conditions, you can't even say that you got stuck in say Durban or Perth. Afghanistan have won two matches and you have won just one. You won against them only actually. If Afghanistan had won the match against them, they would have been in a real hunt to qualify for the semis."
Bangladesh started their World Cup campaign with a six-wicket win against Afghanistan. However, they have suffered crushing defeats in their last four games and have virtually been knocked out of the tournament.
"He is a fixed deposit with the new ball" - Aakash Chopra on Marco Jansen's early strikes against Bangladesh
![Marco Jansen dismissed Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto with the new ball. [P/C: AP]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/10/868c3-16982087968094-1920.jpg?w=500)
Aakash Chopra pointed out that Marco Jansen's early strikes put Bangladesh behind the eight ball in the run chase. He said (4:05):
"You expect that you will score runs in batting, but Marco Jansen was there. He is a fixed deposit with the new ball. He definitely picks up wickets and he did that. Then Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee and this time Lizaad Williams, and Keshav Maharaj alongside them."
However, Chopra praised Mahmudullah for scoring a fighting century. He stated:
"Mahmudullah deserves praise. He scored a century here although he wasn't even a part of the team sometime back. There were a lot of discussions about whether he should be kept or not, but he scored 111 runs off 111 balls. He was absolutely brilliant but what about the others?"
Mahmudullah's run-a-ball 111 was studded with 11 fours and four sixes. His knock helped Bangladesh reach a respectable total of 233 after they were reduced to 81/6 at one stage.