'Belief is key' - Mushtaq rallies Bangladesh ahead of must-win Afghanistan clash

Belief. That was the buzzword as Mushtaq Ahmed, Bangladesh's spin consultant, addressed a press conference ahead of his team's must-win Asia Cup fixture against Afghanistan.

Bangladesh's chastening defeat to Sri Lanka with 32 balls to spare dented a net run-rate that should've received a bigger fillip when they beat Hong Kong. That they took 17.4 overs to knock off 144 despite having a platform was criticised from several quarters.

That means Bangladesh won't be able to control their fate even if they win, since Afghanistan and Sri Lanka play the last group game of the pool.

"You have to believe. The coaches and management keep telling the players that belief is very important," Mushtaq said. "It's difficult, of course, having to rely on ifs and buts, but you have to concentrate on winning the match first."

Asked of potential dangers to look out for, Mushtaq was clear it would come from Afghanistan's spinners, led by their captain, Rashid Khan.

"Their spin department is very good, especially in the middle overs," he said. "If we can counter their spin well and put a decent score on the board, we can challenge them because our bowling unit is also strong. My main concern is the middle overs."

This middle phase is where Bangladesh revived their innings in their previous game, with Jaker Ali and Shamim Hossain reviving a floundering innings. From 59 for 5, they put together an unbroken 80-run stand to lift Bangladesh to 139.

Mushtaq said despite their batting struggles, the messaging has been constant: to try and keep going for their shots, which he also said wasn't something that can be ingrained instantly. But it's something they've been trying to develop in trying to ramp up their batting methods - like their focus towards six-hitting.

"Sometimes, early failures lead to losing four or five wickets quickly," Mushtaq explained. "We tell our batsmen that such things happen, but they must move on fast. If they dwell on the past, their progress will be slow. As coaches, our duty is to prevent them from going into a shell, maintain their confidence, and keep giving them belief.

"As I've said in press conferences, I emphasise on belief. I played with legends like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, and Wasim Akram. One lesson I learned from them is that if you don't believe you belong at the international level, you start over-respecting the opposition and forget your strengths. Even failure while playing aggressively makes you a stronger player.

"If coaches and management can instill that belief, the team can challenge any side. Players like Litton [Das], [Towhid] Hridoy, Tanzim [Hasan], Jaker and Shamim have shown that even when situations look tough, they can find momentum and score 170-180. With good fast bowlers and spinners, and if we get stronger as a team, we can challenge any team."

Mushtaq also called for some patience while dealing with a player like Rishad Hossain, the legspinner. It's an art that hasn't always been explored to its full potential in Bangladesh, primarily because of their battery of traditional left-arm spinners over the years.

Rishad, though, has had an impressive initiation into international cricket, even though he hasn't picked up wickets by the truckloads. His only over the other night against Sri Lanka went for 18.

"Sometimes, as a young leg-spinner, you can overthink and try too many deliveries in one over," Mushtaq assessed. "Especially in the first few overs, you risk losing your line and length. Funny enough, you asked this question [about his form].

"I spoke to him today before we came to the nets. His strength is always to bowl the first three balls in good areas. That builds belief and confidence, after which he can use variations. He has to learn these little things quickly and also figure out, situation-wise, which deliveries to bowl more.

"If a bowler, like Rishad, struggles in the first three balls, it doesn't mean he loses rhythm for the rest of the spell. As a leg-spin bowling coach, I remind all spinners to focus on the process. Bowling good balls consistently builds confidence. He's young and hasn't played much red-ball cricket, so it's my responsibility to ensure he remembers his process before worrying about outcomes."

Mushtaq was then asked what Afghanistan are doing in their development of wristspinners and cricketers in general that Bangladesh aren't.

"Afghanistan players have played lots of franchise cricket," he explained. "You can buy a bed, but you can't buy sleep. Bangladesh has been strong at home, but in ICC or ACC tournaments, we have to improve."