Shakib apologises for Bangladesh exit

Monday, 21 March 2011 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan apologised to his nation’s cricket-crazy fans after the Tigers crashed out of the World Cup in disgrace on Saturday.

Bangladesh were shot out for 78 by South Africa to lose their last league match by 206 runs in front of 25,000 stunned home fans at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium and millions watching on TV across the country.

“Our fans deserved more,” Shakib said after Bangladesh finished with six points in Group B, just above minnows Ireland and the Netherlands.

“The expectations were high among our people because we had played so well over the past 12 months, but we let them down.”

“We have not played good cricket at the World Cup and I feel very sorry for our fans. They deserved much more that what we gave them.”

Lonwabo Tsotsobe grabbed 3-14 on his World Cup debut and Robin Peterson took 4-12 after half-centuries from Jacques Kallis and Faf du Plessis had lifted South Africa to 284-8.

Bangladesh’s batting fell apart in a match they had to win to qualify for the quarter-finals from Group B.

Shakib made 30 but none of the other 10 batsmen reached double figures as Bangladesh almost matched their lowest one-day total of 58 against the West Indies earlier in the tournament.

“There is no other reason for our failure than bad batting,” the captain said. “We did not bat well throughout the tournament.”

“We should probably have given away 20 runs less, but the match was over once we lost four wickets quickly. You can’t find excuses once you are bowled out for 78.”

Shakib said the pressure of living up to everyone’s expectations got to the team.

“This was a pressure match for us. We knew we had to win. The team just could not take the pressure,” he said.

The emphatic win not only cemented South Africa’s place as Group B winners with 10 points, but also carried India and England into the quarter-finals with the West Indies taking the last spot.

Bangladesh ended the league with six points, the same as the West Indies, but their run-rate is so poor that even a massive win by India over Darren Sammy’s men on Sunday will not help.

Shakib conceded he was not looking for miracles anymore.

“We have no chance of qualifying because our run-rate is so low,” he said. “The way we have batted, we probably do not deserve to be in the quarter-finals.”

Tsotsobe, who was given a chance only because pace spearheads Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were rested ahead of the bigger matches, seized the opportunity in style.