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DHAKA, Sept 14, 2025 (BSS)- Bangladesh middle order batter Jaker Ali Anik 
refused to give up the hopes of winning the Asia Cup trophy even though the 
defeat to Sri Lanka left their aspiration in limbo.

Jaker said one defeat shouldn't dash the hopes as they have still the chance 
to make it Super 4.

"There's no point of giving up the hopes. We will play to win the match," 
Jaker said after the match against Sri Lanka at Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Bangladesh made a winning start to the Asia Cup, beating Hong Kong by seven 
wickets but lost to Sri Lanka by six wickets.

They will take on Afghanistan in their last match of the group phase on 
Tuesday, which now turned out to be 'do or die' contest for them.

To keep the hopes of winning the elusive Asia Cup trophy live, they must move 
to next round and a victory against Afghanistan could make them relevant in 
the tournament. 

But the meek surrender against Sri Lanka raised a question whether they can 
topple a team like Afghanistan. 

"We have the mindset to win every match that we play in any place of the 
World. We will bring that approach in the next match too. There is no other 
way. We are not here to play matches only, we are here to become champions," 
Jaker noted.

"Losing one game doesn't mean losing hopes. We will go into the next match 
with an aim to win it."

After being sent to bat first, Bangladesh recovered from a 53-5 to put up 
139-5 against Sri Lanka, a total proved to be insufficient. Bangladesh in 
fact wouldn't have gone past 100, had Jaker and Shamim Patwari not shared an 
86-run partnership for the undefeated sixth wicket.

Jaker claimed that the wind had a significant impact while batting, "Since it 
was hot, the wind was a factor. On this ground, you can't hit on both sides. 
They bowled well. As a batting unit, we didn't do well."

Jaker, however, expressed his frustration at not being able to put on big 
scores on Abu Dhabi's Sporting wicket.

"The wicket was good for batting. But we didn't get a good start. As a team, 
we can't lose so many wickets in the Powerplay. That's where the match was 
lost. We have to find ways to do better in the Powerplay," Jaker who made 41 
not out said.