Akeal ‘surprised’ Rishad did not bat in Super Over; Soumya cites management move

West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein admitted he was "surprised" not to see Bangladesh all-rounder Rishad Hossain come out to bat during the Super Over of the second ODI in Mirpur on Tuesday.

Rishad has been the brightest performer for Bangladesh in the ongoing three-match series, producing game-changing contributions with both bat and ball. In the opening match, the leg-spinner picked up a career-best 6-35 to dismantle the visitors and secure a 74-run victory for the hosts. Before his bowling heroics in that game, Rishad's late cameo of 26 off just 13 balls had lifted Bangladesh to a competitive 207 on a tricky surface at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

The 21-year-old carried his superb form into the second ODI as well, playing a whirlwind unbeaten knock of 39 from 14 deliveries, laced with three fours and as many sixes. His late flourish powered Bangladesh to 213 for seven in their allotted 50 overs. Rishad later chipped in with three wickets with the ball, capping off another fine all-round display.

However, despite his blistering hitting power and confidence, Rishad was overlooked for the Super Over -- Bangladesh's first-ever appearance in this rare phase of the game across all three formats of men's international cricket.

Chasing 11 runs to win, Bangladesh instead sent Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, and Najmul Hossain Shanto to face Akeal. The trio could manage only nine runs, including four extras, allowing the West Indies to snatch a narrow win and level the series 1-1.

Speaking after the match, Akeal said he and his teammates were taken aback by Bangladesh's decision not to send their in-form power-hitter to bat in the Super Over.

"Yes, I was a bit surprised," Akeal told reporters. "I mean, the guy that seemed to do the most destruction in the match -- 39 off about 14 deliveries, not out -- and he's not in your Super Over, hitting to the short side where he struck two sixes.

"You know, we all were a bit surprised that he didn't come out at all, and it worked in our favour. He was one of the few guys who packed that power and had that reach because he's quite a tall guy. He had that reach as well, and they didn't send him out to survive."

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When Bangladesh opener Soumya Sarkar was asked about the team's decision-making process, the left-hander explained that it was a call made by the management.

"The coach planned it. The coach and the captain had a part in it. So they considered sending the main batsmen," Soumya said after the defeat.

Soumya, who faced most of the deliveries in the Super Over, admitted his failure to find a boundary cost Bangladesh the match.

"Yes, you can say it was a failure for me," he acknowledged. "There was a left-arm spinner, and I had the confidence that I could secure a boundary. But the wicket wasn't easy to hit on -- the ball was old, skidding, it was coming too slow and there was a lot of turn. It wasn't a wicket for easy boundaries. Next time, if there's a similar situation, I must practise how to hit sixes in such conditions."

The narrow defeat means the series will now be decided in the third and final ODI on Thursday, with both sides eager to clinch the series.