‘We’re not playing well’: Miraz admits after Tigers’ 200-run capitulation against Afghanistan

Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz admitted his side's glaring shortcomings after another abysmal batting display saw the Tigers slump to a 200-run defeat against Afghanistan in the third and final ODI in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, sealing a 3-0 whitewash.

Chasing 294, Bangladesh collapsed for just 93 in 27.1 overs -- their lowest total of the series -- with opener Saif Hassan the only batter to reach double figures. The Tigers have now lost nine of their last 10 ODIs under Miraz's captaincy and 13 of 17 overall since the start of 2024, a run that includes just one series win.

"We accept that we haven't played well in this series. We are not getting the runs, we had opportunities but we didn't take it," Miraz said in the post-match interview. "Everybody accepted that we are not playing well. They have a good bowling attack but we have to handle it."

The 27-year-old pointed to repeated collapses and a lack of discipline across all departments. The Tigers even dropped at least a catch in every match of the series. "We are worried about particular areas like giving away too many wickets," he said. "We have to take responsibility in the top and middle order and then towards the end. We have to play 50 overs. In the last three matches, we have not been able to do that."

Indeed, the Tigers failed to last 30 overs in each of the last two games -- bowled out for 109 in pursuit of 190 in the second ODI, and 93 in the third -- following an opening defeat where they at least batted till the 49th over.

Saif, the lone bright spot in another bleak campaign, looked completely different to his teammates in his 54-ball 43, striking three sixes and two fours before falling to Rashid Khan. No other batter managed double digits, with number 10 Hasan Mahmud's nine the next-best score.

Afghanistan's Bilal Sami claimed a maiden five-for (5-33) to decimate Bangladesh's batting, while Rashid returned 3-12 to complete the rout.

Earlier, Saif and Tanvir Islam had led Bangladesh's brief fightback with the ball, sharing six wickets between them to keep Afghanistan to 293 for nine after a strong start led by opener Ibrahim Zadran's 95. But late fireworks from Mohammad Nabi, who smashed an unbeaten 62 off 37 balls, swung the momentum decisively away.

Miraz, however, insisted the team would regroup. "We will talk about how we can get better," he said. "We played ODI cricket after a long time, but that cannot be an excuse. We have to improve, and quickly."

The Tigers will now prepare to host the West Indies for three ODIs and as many T20Is. The Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur will host all three ODIs on October 18, 21, and 23. The action will then shift to Chattogram where the T20Is are slated for October 27, 29, and 31.