‘Everyone’s improving’, Taskin optimistic ahead of Asia Cup

As Taskin Ahmed stepped out of the post-match press conference, he was quickly surrounded by a group of fans. Despite being in a rush to catch the team bus, he paused for photos, obliging their requests with a smile. As he walked towards the dressing room, a journalist joked, "So many pictures today!" Taskin laughed and replied, "For no reason, really."

Despite claiming four wickets and being named Player of the Match in Bangladesh's convincing win over the Netherlands, Taskin has his sights set on a bigger picture. The joy of victory was clear, but the emphasis remained on playing "good cricket". That focus came through clearly in his ten-minute interaction with the media, where discussions ranged from his own bowling to the performances of his teammates, and inevitably, the upcoming Asia Cup set to begin on 9 September.

"There's a strong desire in everyone to improve," Taskin said, highlighting the efforts and progress of the squad. He also drew confidence from his captain, Liton Das. Liton, who had a poor outing in the previous series against Pakistan with scores of 1, 8, and 8, returned to form with an unbeaten 54 off 29 balls in the eight-wicket win over the Dutch. For Taskin, Liton's resurgence is a source of optimism for the entire team. "It's really important for us that Liton is in good form. He's been batting well recently—we can see that in the nets too," he added.

On a day when both Liton and Taskin shone, another key performer was Saif Hassan. Recalled after nearly three years and straight into the Asia Cup squad, Saif made an immediate impact. He took two wickets with the ball and later remained unbeaten on 36 off 19 balls. Taskin acknowledged Saif's contribution in the press conference, but noted that the conditions were especially tough for the bowlers.

Despite the evening dew adding an unusual twist to the game in the intense heat, Taskin relished the challenge. "It was a sporting wicket today. To me, this was the best batting pitch I've seen in Bangladesh so far. It was a bit challenging, but I enjoyed it overall," he said.

Taskin's recent performances mark a welcome return to rhythm after a difficult period. Although he was placed in the highest salary category at the beginning of the year, injuries kept him out of national team action for the first six months. After making a return during the Sri Lanka tour, he admitted struggling to find his usual rhythm. However, with three wickets in the final two games against Pakistan and another strong display against the Netherlands, Taskin is feeling more like himself again. "It was a bit difficult to get back into rhythm, but it's getting better. I've worked really hard in the past few weeks. There's still a long way to go, but I'm trying to follow the process," he said.

Looking beyond individual performances, Taskin is hopeful for the team's prospects in upcoming tournaments. But he believes success hinges on one key principle. "Our team is quite evenly matched. Staying united is crucial. Supporting one another is just as important," he concluded.