Too much expectations increase pressure, says Shakib Al Hasan to fans

Bangladesh team

Since ICC World T20 is being hosted by Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan has requested fans to have reasonable expectations regarding their team’s performance in the tournament. He tried to explain the fans that just because matches will be played on home grounds, they should not increase their expectations from the team as it may add extra pressure on the team.

Bangladesh did not win any match in the recent Asia cup 2014, but the team is confident to perform well in the upcoming ICC World T20 championship.

“As the tournament is at home, we will have the support, but there shouldn’t be too much expectation,” Shakib said. “I have heard people say, ‘Let the cup stay at home.’ But I think we have to tone that down a bit.

“Please support us, the team will do better. But everyone has to take the result sportingly. Too much expectation does put undue pressure on us,” Shakib was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Shakib also mentioned that no team can be taken lightly in T20 game format, as it is very hard to recover from a mistake in T20.

“Nepal is a big team to us. We are a big team to Pakistan, India and Australia. An over or a ball can change a T20 game. On paper there can be a favorite but on the day, I don’t think there is any favorite,” says Shakib.

On Shakib’s comment, renowned cricket analyst Harsha Bhogle tweeted, suggesting the same might hold true for Indian fans:

tone down expectations says shakib to bangladesh fans. he is right. think dhoni might have to say the same to indian fans.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 10, 2014