Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Liton Das, who hit 60 off 44 balls in the first T20 against Afghanistan on Thursday applauded Nasum Ahmed for his “game-changing bowling”. 

While Liton helped Bangladesh post a challenging total of 155-8, Nasum’s fiery bowling demolished Afghanistan to clinch a win 61-run victory at Mirpur’s packed Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Masum ended up taking four wickets conceding only 10 runs in four overs— his best bowling figure in this format.  

“The way Nasum bowled was a game-changing effort,” Liton said after the match. “Had he not picked up early wickets, the result of the match would have been different. I think the wicket was better, and considering that Nasum bowled really well.”

Nasum removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the very first over when Afghanistan started to chase the target of 156. Afghanistan were never able to recover from that early setback. 

Read: Liton, Nasum guide Bangladesh to easy win vs Afghanistan in first T20

“Nasum is not like other left-arm spinners. I played him a lot in the nets, and he always tries to do something different. He can play with his pace, which is so important in T20 cricket. It’s easy to pick if a bowler comes up with the same kind of deliveries. I think he is a different type of bowler,” Liton further said about Nasum. 

Bangladesh fielded two uncapped players in this match— Munim Shahriar and Yasir Ali. To give a chance as an opener to Munim, Liton had to bat changing his regular position of an opener.

“I’m not to talk about the change of my batting position. Whenever I play for Bangladesh, my only focus remains on doing well and contributing to the team’s result,” Liton said. 

“I will do whatever the team is expecting from me. If the team management asks me to bat at number one tomorrow, I’ll do it. I have nothing to say about it,” Liton further told the media.