Pooran: WI batters weren't 'good enough' in Dubai games, but will fare better in Sharjah

WI vice-captain says playing most Bangladesh bowlers in the BPL could play a role in his success against their opponents

“Yeah, I think Bangladesh after losing two games – they are in the same situation as us as well,” Pooran said. “So, I think it’s going to be a good challenge for us tomorrow. We need to get that victory and playing in Sharjah as well… We know Bangladesh have a lot of spinners as well. It’s definitely going to be a challenge for us as well and it’s how bad we actually want it.”

Reflecting on the twin batting collapses, Pooran admitted that West Indies’ batters were “not good enough” in Dubai, but backed them to fare better in Sharjah.

“The mood in the camp is still good,” Pooran said. “The guys are gelling really good; I think we’re really hurt at losing those two games and we have only ourselves to blame. But the mood is still good. We know what we have to do and everyone is up for the challenge.

Pooran had been bumped up to No.3 to offset Lendl Simmons’ go-slow innings on Tuesday. Keeping him at the top could potentially neutralise Bangladesh’s left-armers – he strikes at nearly 171 against left-arm orthodox in T20 cricket – but he held his cards close to his chest.

“For me it’s just about doing what the team wants me to do, to be honest,” he said. “At the moment, the tournament is just for us to put our hands up and perform whatever role the team requires from me.

“It doesn’t really matter to be honest. We back our batsmen 100%. Doesn’t matter if it’s a right-hand or left-hand batsman. We back them to do the job for us – whoever is playing in that XI tomorrow, they’ll have specific roles. We have a wonderful captain and he knows what he’s doing as well. So whatever he says goes and we back him to make some really good decisions for us tomorrow to be successful.”

Pooran felt that his familiarity with the Bangladesh players, having played alongside the likes of Liton Das and Afif Hossain for Sylhet Sixers in the 2018-19 BPL, could come in handy on Friday. During that season, Pooran hit 379 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of just under 160. Only Rilee Rossouw, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim had scored more runs than Pooran in that BPL.

“It helps a lot,” Pooran said of the BPL experience. ‘I’ve spent a bit of time in Bangladesh as well, not only me but a lot of the other guys as well. We have good friendships; we make good friendships with the guys. We get to understand them and learn off them as well, especially in different conditions. So going into the game, [we] actually know what these guys do – being a bit familiar with it and I think that helps us a lot as batsmen and as bowlers as well.”