Losing a series against the UAE? Things couldn’t get any worse | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Saturday
July 12, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2025
Losing a series against the UAE? Things couldn’t get any worse

Sports

Shammo Nahid Sachcho
24 May, 2025, 02:30 pm
Last modified: 24 May, 2025, 02:34 pm

Related News

  • BCB set to appoint Simon Taufel as umpiring consultant
  • Bulbul's Advisory Committee clouded in questions
  • UAE series ends in embarrassment as Litton rues mistakes and missed opportunities
  • Bangladesh cricket reach new low as UAE seal T20 series win
  • Litton blames dew and poor execution after record defeat to UAE

Losing a series against the UAE? Things couldn’t get any worse

It was without any doubt that Bangladesh were the clear favorites when they went to Sharjah for a 2-match (later increased to 3-match) T20 series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). But to everyone’s surprise, UAE not only won the series 2-1, but they did it comprehensively by dominating the Tigers in most of the matches.

Shammo Nahid Sachcho
24 May, 2025, 02:30 pm
Last modified: 24 May, 2025, 02:34 pm
Losing a series against the UAE? Things couldn’t get any worse

Should the Bangladesh cricket team just go back and start learning the basics once again from scratch? It's very normal to have questions like this in your mind when, after being in the international cricket scene for more than a quarter of a century, you fail to win a T20 series against an associate member side that is still trying to make their mark on the world of cricket.

It was without any doubt that Bangladesh were the clear favorites when they went to Sharjah for a 2-match (later increased to 3-match) T20 series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). But to everyone's surprise, UAE not only won the series 2-1, but they did it comprehensively by dominating the Tigers in most of the matches.

Bangladesh did start off well by winning the first match. But as the series progressed, they kept going backward, while their counterparts, fueled by the fact that this was their chance to pull off something historical, never seemed to lose momentum and always stayed positive that they could beat Bangladesh with ease. This was a new low for Bangladesh's cricket, and one may wonder, what went wrong? When will the Bangladesh national team stop disappointing time after time and start producing consecutive results? And after the dismantling performance against UAE, where does Bangladesh's future lie in terms of T20 cricket?

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The series kicked off on May 17th, 2025. Batting first, Bangladesh scored 191-7 courtesy of a 53-ball century by Parvez Hossain Emon. The hosts put up a good fight but fell 27 runs short. The win set the tone for what was supposed to be an easy series win for the visitors. But as it turned out, it was the fighting spirit shown by the hosts that propelled them to carry the momentum forward and strike back. It was the next two games that turned the tables for UAE. In the second match, Bangladesh put up a competitive total of 205/5 but still failed to defend the tally. And in the series decider, Bangladesh again fell short as UAE swiftly moved past the 162/9 put up by them with 7 wickets and 5 balls in hand.

The playing conditions weren't in complete favor of Bangladesh either, as they had to bowl in the second innings in both of these games. The evening dew was making it harder for the bowlers to grip the ball, and even a death-over specialist like Mustafizur Rahman was struggling to control the ball. As explained by Captain Litton Das after the match, "Our bowlers couldn't get a proper grip, and it hit our spinners hardest," making it an ideal pitch for batters to strike the ball hard and get results in their favor.

Environment wasn't the only issue that made Bangladesh suffer; a few wrong tactical decisions and misjudgments made them pay a hefty price. Noticeably, Bangladesh's decision to lead the attack with pace bowling on a pitch heavy with dew was a bit confusing. Pacers Mustafizur and Hasan Mahmud were struggling to keep the ball in the right length and conceding excessive runs in the power play. UAE's offensive attack, led by their captain Muhammad Waseem, maximized every mistake made by the tigers. Their outstanding performers included Alishan Sharafu, Haider Ali, Asif Khan, and Rahul Chopra, among others. "I'm very happy we have made history. This series means a lot to us. It's very helpful for us in the future. And I'm very happy with the performance of the boys," mentioned UAE's skipper in a post-match press conference after their series win. Sharafu added, "Once that third game was announced, everyone was optimistic in the dressing room that we could go 2-1 up in the series."

Bangladesh showed a lackluster performance in all three departments, including a fielding display to forget. In the series decider, Sharafu was dropped early in the match and then went on to score an unbeaten 68 runs, scattering any hopes of Bangladesh to get a quick breakthrough. Skipper Waseem went on to score 82 off 42 balls courtesy of similar fielding mistakes in the second T20. This is not the first time Bangladesh has shown a disastrous display in the smaller format of the game, as they lost 2-1 against the United States, another associated member of the ICC, exactly a year ago. So, nothing seems to have changed from that point onwards, and they are back to square one once again,  the fans are scratching their heads and trying to connect the dots behind Bangladesh's performance in recent times.

While Bangladesh was struggling big time to get a hold of themselves, the UAE players played all three matches fiercely, facing every challenge and obstacle thrown at them by our players and coming out on top on almost every occasion. Take nothing away from them; they deserve all the credit for the performance they have shown on the pitch. Their ability to read the game quickly, take calculative decisions, and exploit Bangladesh's weaknesses made all the difference.

And as the 2026 T20 World Cup looms just around the horizon, this defeat feels like a step back for the national team, impacting heavily on the mindset and momentum of the players

Cricket

Bangladesh vs UAE / Bangladesh cricket

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Kunming rising: China's emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients
    Kunming rising: China's emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients
  • Representational image. Photo: Collected
    2nd round of US-Bangladesh tariff talks set to conclude today as business leaders await breakthrough
  • Photo: Courtesy
    4 arrested, 2 remanded over brutal killing of trader near Mitford Hospital

MOST VIEWED

  • In terms of stream of education, girls maintained their excellence as well. Photo: TBS
    SSC 2025: Girls dominate boys by over 5%
  • Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS
    SSC, equivalent results: Pass rate drops to 68.45%, GPA-5 also declines
  • The overall pass rate across all boards this year, 68.45%, is significantly lower than last year's. Photo: Focus Bangla
    SSC 2025: Rajshahi board records highest pass rate, Barishal lowest
  • How S Alam’s Global Islami Bank cooked Tk2,259cr loss into Tk128cr profit
    How S Alam’s Global Islami Bank cooked Tk2,259cr loss into Tk128cr profit
  • Representational image. Photo: TBS
    SSC 2025: 73.63% pass rate among technical students, 68.09% at Madrasahs
  • Economist Abul Barkat; Photo: Courtesy
    Economist Abul Barkat arrested in graft case

Related News

  • BCB set to appoint Simon Taufel as umpiring consultant
  • Bulbul's Advisory Committee clouded in questions
  • UAE series ends in embarrassment as Litton rues mistakes and missed opportunities
  • Bangladesh cricket reach new low as UAE seal T20 series win
  • Litton blames dew and poor execution after record defeat to UAE

Features

Kunming rising: China's emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients

Kunming rising: China's emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients

5h | Panorama
Photo: Collected/BBC

What Hitler’s tariff policy misfire can teach the modern world

1d | The Big Picture
Illustration: TBS

Behind closed doors: Why women in Bangladesh stay in abusive marriages

1d | Panorama
Purbachl’s 144-acre Sal forest is an essential part of the area’s biodiversity. Within it, 128 species of plants and 74 species of animals — many of them endangered — have been identified. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS

A forest saved: Inside the restoration of Purbachal's last Sal grove

1d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Renowned economist Abul Barkat imprisoned

Renowned economist Abul Barkat imprisoned

4h | TBS Today
All of Iran's uranium still intact, Israel claims

All of Iran's uranium still intact, Israel claims

3h | TBS World
Trump-Netanyahu in new strategy on Gaza issue

Trump-Netanyahu in new strategy on Gaza issue

5h | TBS World
Shocking science: why birds stay safe on electricity lines

Shocking science: why birds stay safe on electricity lines

6h | TBS Stories
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net