Win or lose dressing room atmosphere doesn't change much: Shakib

 The ODI series against Afghanistan did not go well for Bangladesh.  They lost the series with one match in hand.  Despite getting the desired win in the last match, questions have been raised about the atmosphere in the Tigers' dressing room at the end of the series.  The country's cricket was abuzz with the retirement and subsequent return of regular captain Tamim Iqbal during the series.  At the same time, Bangladesh was lagging behind the Afghans in team performance.  However, Shakib Al Hasan believes that the atmosphere in the dressing room has not had any effect.

The two-match T20I series against Afghanistan begins on July 14.  Bangladesh T20 team captain Shakib claimed this at the official press conference the day before the match.

He said, 'A lot of things may seem different from the outside, I don't think we were unsettled in the dressing room, because of the results you think so.  Whether we win or lose, the atmosphere in the dressing room doesn't change much.'

Bangladesh started the series by losing the Afghan Test by a huge margin of 546 runs.  Expectations rise even higher when the ODI series comes up.  Because Bangladesh is strong enough in the ODI version at home.

Bangladesh also had a chance to go to number five in the ODI rankings by winning this series.  But the hope is dashed by the performance of the Tigers on the field.  Meanwhile, Afghanistan is a relatively strong team in the T20 series.

 Before the start of the short version series, therefore, extra thoughts are working in the minds of Bangladeshi fans and cricketers alike.  Although Shakib is not busy with extra thoughts.

According to the world's best all-rounder, thinking less about the opponent will improve Bangladesh's results, 'We tend to get a little nervous or not perform as well when we think too much about the conditions and too much about the opponent.  I think the less we can do about that, the better for us.'

 Meanwhile, rain can play a big role in this T20 series held in Sylhet.  He has announced to decide the XI considering the possibility of rain for now, 'I will be able to decide the XI only after how many overs are played till the moment of toss'.