Bangladesh assistant coach Nic Pothas, responsible for the batting side, joined the team on a two-year contract, with his first assignment being the series against Ireland in England. However, Shakib is still waiting to see the fruits of Pothas’s appointment.

Bangladesh’s batting had shown promise with increased aggression in the middle overs. However, the team’s inability to read game situations has been a concern. With the World Cup approaching, head coach Chandika Hathurusingha will miss the first two games against New Zealand due to a family emergency. Pothas must ensure the team maintains its confidence as they head into the World Cup.

“Chandika Hathrusingha would not be here for the first two ODIs as his wife is having surgery. He will arrive on September 25th and join the team on the 26th. We have appointed Nic Pothas as interim coach,” cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus announced.

Since Pothas’s arrival, the top three in the batting order have averaged just over 26. Excluding Najmul Hossain Shanto’s fine form, the batting lineup has faced challenges. Multiple players have been tested in the opening slot and the lower middle-order (specifically numbers seven and eight), but they have averaged just over 14 during this period.

While Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, and Tawhid Hridoy have contributed with runs, younger players have not lived up to their potential. Shamim Hossain and Afif Hossain have been dropped from the New Zealand series. With the series serving as a platform for World Cup selection, improving decision-making in crucial moments becomes vital.

Despite the struggles against Maheesh Theekshana’s mystery spin in the Asia Cup and questionable shot selection, the team must work on decision-making and adapting to match scenarios. Pothas noted the team’s tendency to make it easier for opposition seamers by being overly aggressive.

On batting-friendly wickets, losing the advantage of batting first due to poor shot selection indicates a communication breakdown within the team.