Chandika Hathurusingha, the coach of the Bangladesh cricket team, has shed light on his players' performance at the World Cup, noting that they seem to have retreated into a "shell" due to issues that are "between the ears."
The Bangladesh cricket team has struggled in the tournament, with just one win in seven games, effectively ruling them out of contention for a spot in the semi-finals, despite having two group games left to play.
Hathurusingha emphasised, "We didn't play our best cricket, but the key issue is that nothing has changed in terms of our skills from the first game until now. The only change we've witnessed is what's happening in our minds."
Bangladesh is set to face Sri Lanka in a match in pollution-affected New Delhi, followed by their final group stage encounter against five-time champions Australia in Pune.
Their World Cup journey started with a win against Afghanistan, although they were chasing a modest 156-run target. However, they subsequently faced heavy defeats against England, New Zealand, India, South Africa, and Pakistan.
Their lowest point came when they lost to the Netherlands, being bowled out for just 142 while chasing a target of 230 runs.
In a World Cup where high scores have become the norm, Bangladesh's highest team total has been 256 against India. Additionally, they have just one batsman and one bowler in the top 25 list of run-scorers and wicket-takers.
The veteran Mahmudullah, unlikely to feature in the 2027 World Cup, has been a standout performer for Bangladesh with 274 runs and an impressive average of over 68.
Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz leads Bangladesh's bowling charts with nine wickets to his name.
Hathurusingha concluded by stating, "Their skills haven't deteriorated; it's the mental aspect that's troubling us. We haven't demonstrated our true potential. For some reason, we've become defensive, especially in our batting. That's what we need to address and return to fearless cricket."
