Mushfiqur demands better body language from team

Mushfiqur Rahim, the Bangladesh captain, wants his team to display better body language on the field in the three ODIs against India, as the side looks to break a seven-match losing streak. Mushfiqur said that once the side was physically positive, it would translate to better results.

"We lost seven one-dayers this year and in terms of body language, we were a bit different," Mushfiqur said. "I want that authority in the field. Hopefully we can forget the defeats and start fresh tomorrow. If we can start well tomorrow and finish, the pressure will be on them.

"We have learned that in ODIs, you have to play good cricket for 100 overs. You can't win by just playing well for two hours. We had a few classes [by a life success coach] that helped us as well. The new coaching staff has come so we have worked hard."

Bangladesh have had their opposition in trouble a few times this year, but have failed to grab the advantage. They had Sri Lanka at 67 for 8 in an ODI, before dropped catches helped the batting side put up 180, and Bangladesh batted with less intensity in the slog overs during the ODI series. During the Asia Cup, they let Virat Kohli run away with the game after setting India a target of 280. They conceded a massive advantage against Afghanistan, after having reduced them to 90 for 5, and then chased poorly. Against Pakistan, they did not attack too much with the ball or in the field despite scoring 326, and against Sri Lanka in the final group game, Bangladesh once again let the game slip after having the opposition at 75 for 5.

Mushfiqur said the losing streak, and not a weakened opposition, would work as extra motivation for Bangladesh. He had earlier voiced disappointment at India's squad, which does not include eight regulars including MS Dhoni and Kohli, but stated it was the right opportunity to send a message across to the powers that be.

"We didn't win any ODIs in 2014 so that could be an extra motivation," he said. "This is another chance for us. If we play very well, we might even win all the three games, so this is a different challenge.

"This is a young Indian side but they are a strong unit. All the good IPL players have come but it will not be very easy for them. T20 and ODIs are different. It will be a challenging series.

After the string of losses in ODIs and during the World T20 at home, Bangladesh players were predictably low in confidence. Some of them found form in domestic first-class cricket while someone like Shakib Al Hasan was in the thick of things in the IPL.

The team has also trained in Mirpur for the last three weeks, and Mushfiqur felt they would have to translate that hard training on the field.

"It is important for us to return to play as we have done as a group in the last two years," he said. "Maybe we haven't done that in 2014. We need to show that we can play that sort of cricket again. We have been working hard during training, now we have to bring that display on the field."