Dhaka captain Perera forgets number of changes made in XI, highlights team's lack of cohesion

Thisara Perera, captain of the Dhaka Capitals, returned from a brief trip to Sri Lanka only a day before their match against Rangpur Riders, carrying both travel fatigue and the burden of consecutive defeats.

Perhaps it was this mental strain that led him to forget the number of changes made to his team's playing XI for Monday's match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

The Dhaka Capitals made six changes to their lineup for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) clash, but at the toss, Perera told the commentator that there were only three.

He repeated the same figure twice, despite the official team sheet confirming otherwise.

As captain, Perera is expected to be fully informed about such decisions, especially since his input would have been critical in finalising the changes. Yet, his apparent lack of awareness raised eyebrows. The confusion persisted even after the match, as he reiterated the "three changes" narrative during the post-match presentation, correcting the host when six changes were mentioned.

The game itself added to Dhaka Capitals' woes, with the team succumbing to a seven-wicket loss. This marked their fourth consecutive defeat, leaving them languishing at the bottom of the points table. Struggling with both batting and bowling, the team's drastic lineup overhaul was an attempt to reverse their fortunes.

The six changes saw Steven Eskinazi, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Shuvam Ranjane, Chaturanga de Silva, Nazmul Islam Apu, and Abu Jayed Rahi being dropped. England's Jason Roy, along with Sabbir Rahman and Mosaddek Hossain, were included for their first matches of the season. Habibur Rahman Sohan, Mukidul Islam Mugdha, and Amir Hamza also returned to the XI.

Despite these changes, the Capitals' performance remained lacklustre. Perera, who had scored a century in the previous match, failed to open his account this time. Speaking after the match, the former Sri Lankan all-rounder expressed his disappointment over the team's continued poor form.

"It's very unfortunate that we've lost four matches in a row," Perera said. "We need to assess where we are going wrong with the batting. We've been losing wickets in quick succession, and that's been our biggest issue. While our bowling has improved, we must address the batting problems."

Perera's remarks further underscored the Capitals' disarray, with a mismatch between intentions and execution. If the team hopes to revive their campaign, both their on-field performance and leadership clarity will need a significant overhaul.