In the wake of a devastating series loss to the USA in the T20 World Cup in 2024, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan declared that there are no little or big teams in T20 cricket. Notably, on Thursday, May 23, in Houston, Bangladesh lost the second Twenty20 International match by a margin of six runs to the USA. Consequently, the hosts won their first series against a team with all of its players, a historic first.
At the same location, the USA defeated the Bangla Tigers by five wickets in the opening match, with the USA needing 19.3 overs to reach the goal of 154. Shakib described the humiliating series loss as a "wake-up" for the team ahead of the World Cup and said it was unexpected.
"Certainly it is disappointing and we didn't expect it but we must give credit to the US team for the way they have played. I think no one expected that we would lose two games. Any match you lose as a team is disappointing and you don't want to lose a game and it is very disappointing. But having said that we have to play the World Cup and this series might be a wake-up call for us as we haven't played the way we want to play,” Shakib noted in the post-match press conference.
Speaking further ahead, the all-round player from Bangladesh discussed the unpredictable nature of the T20 format and how it is far more intriguing than previous forms because there are no small or large teams involved. Following his earlier declaration that the series between Zimbabwe and the USA was not an "ideal preparation" for the T20 World Cup, Shakib made these remarks.
No small or big teams in T20 cricket: Shakib
"It's a team game and everyone has to take responsibility - you win as a team and you lose as a team. I don't want to blame any particular person or any particular department. It's just that T20 is such a format you have to play very good cricket in all three departments to win against any team. There are no small or big teams in T20 cricket and that's why it is more exciting than any other format. And the proof of that is in the last two games the way the US played,” he commented.
The southpaw hasn't had a very good series thus far, scoring only 36 runs in two innings and going wicketless with an economy of 7.28 on the ball. In the third Twenty20 International on Saturday, May 25, the 37-year-old will be keen to motivate his team to recover and spare them from an embarrassing defeat.