Towhid Hridoy defended Bangladesh’s measured approach in their Asia Cup 2025 opener against Hong Kong, highlighting the team’s focus on securing victory rather than accelerating the chase. On Thursday, September 11, the Tigers made an impressive start to their campaign with a seven-wicket win, chasing 144 with 16 balls to spare.
Bangladesh, however, recorded a net run rate of +1.001, a factor that could prove crucial in group-stage qualification, especially with Afghanistan holding a net run rate of +4.700. While the game could have ended earlier, Hridoy stressed the value of playing smart cricket, prioritising partnerships and stability over sheer speed in the chase.
‘We played smart cricket’
“We could have finished the game earlier, but we stuck to the demands of the situation. Our mentality is to always win. We wanted to ensure that the match doesn’t slip away from us. We tried to end the game early, but I couldn’t connect the ball that well. I think the result is more important than finishing one or two overs earlier,” Hridoy said in the post-match press conference.
“We want to beat Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, so run-rate isn’t what we are worried about at this stage. We don’t want to complicate matters so early in the tournament,” he said.
“I think we played smart cricket. We could have finished two or three overs earlier, but we could have lost one or two more wickets. We must prioritize partnerships. We tried to hit more boundaries, but it didn’t happen,” Hridoy added.
Hridoy, Litton take Bangladesh home
After early setbacks with the dismissals of openers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy and Litton Das steadied the innings with a crucial 95-run partnership for the third wicket, guiding Bangladesh to victory.
Hridoy remained unbeaten on 35 from 36 balls, while Litton accelerated the scoring with a 59-run knock off 39 deliveries.
Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka next on Saturday, September 13, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
