WI vs BAN | Bangladesh will continue to embrace 5-bowler strategy in ODIs: Tamim Iqbal

Bangladesh will continue to embrace the strategy of playing five bowlers over adding extra batter, skipper Tamim Iqbal said following the tourists' six-wicket win over the West Indies in the 1st ODI in Guyana on Sunday.

With star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan unavailable for the series due to injury, Bangladesh had to choose between adding a sixth batter or a fifth bowler; they opted for the latter and reaped rewards for it.

While left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam (4-34) and spinner Mehidy Hasan (3-36) claimed 7 wickets between them, Nasum Ahmed, the 5th bowler vindicated his selection by giving just 16 runs in 8 overs.

West Indies eventually managed just 149-9 in a rain-affected 41-over-a-side fixture and while Bangladesh did lose 4 wickets in its pursuit, they eventually romped home with nearly 10 overs to spare.

Tamim willing to continue with 5-bowler strategy

Stressing on the fact that modern-day ODI cricket demands an aggressive rather than a safety first approach, skipper Tamim told the reporters that Bangladesh will continue to go with the 5-bowler theory, urging his batsmen to take more responsibility.

"There were a lot of debates whether we play one extra batsman or one extra bowler. If we play one extra batsman, it would have been a safe call but you have to take chances in international cricket. 

We have to go with either one batsman or one bowler. For me, in the ODI format, you have to have five proper bowlers and I hope all the batsmen take responsibility and finish the game,'' Tamim told reporters after Bangladesh's 5-wicket win in Guyana.

He added: "International cricket, if you take the easy option, there are times when it will not be successful and you have to take chances. Today, it could have been a different thing altogether (if we had lost) and you could have asked me why we played with one less batsman. But all went well.”

He also stressed on the fact that given the side will be playing a batsman less, others need to assume more responsibility.

Iqbal also specifically pointed out Najmul Hossain Shanto, stating that the batsman should be disappointed that he could not finish off the game for his team.

Shanto scored a 46-ball 37 but Bangladesh still needed more than 50 runs when he was dismissed.

Bangladesh will look to clinch the series when they take on the hosts in the 2nd ODI at the same venue on July 13.