All rounder Sakib al Hasan is yearning for a sporting wicket in the forthcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka as he believed that it would provide both the teams an equal chance against each other. ‘I think a sporting wicket would be better because the contest will be between two Asian teams,’ Sakib told reporters at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.
‘It is not a fact that they will not be able to bat against spinners if the wicket is spin-friendly.
‘I feel that overall it should be a sporting wicket that will help everyone. If you can bat well you can score runs while if you bowl well, you will pick up wickets.
‘We are an experienced team and recently, we have been playing good cricket both individually and as a team. I don’t think a sporting wicket would be a bad option,’ he said.
Sakib went on to stress that a sporting wicket would not be a bad option for the Tigers as he felt that Bangladesh had the ability to get their opponents out twice, a prerequisite for winning a Test match.
‘Our bowling attack is good but still it depends on the wicket. No matter how good the bowling attack is, it becomes difficult if the wicket is flat,’ said Sakib.
‘Everyone needs to contribute. Someone might take five wickets but the rest need to take one wicket apiece.
‘So overall, everyone needs to do that and the fast bowlers have a big role to play. Though our bowling attack in Tests is spin-oriented but still fast bowlers have a big responsibility. At the same time, spinners need to bowl to their ability,’ he said.
Sakib took heart from the last time the two sides met in a Test series. At their own backyard, Sri Lanka were held to a draw in the first of two Test matches, courtesy some brilliant performances by the Bangladesh cricketers.
‘The last time we played against them, we did very well in the Test matches,’ said the 26-year old all-rounder.
‘Because it is at home, there will be some advantages for us. We are playing good cricket at home for the last two years and if we can do that I don’t think there will be a lot of difference [between the two teams].
‘The team is playing really well for the last one or two years and naturally the confidence level of the team is high. Apart from that there are more performers in our team these days.
‘So naturally competition between the teams is much more intense which is better for us. Even those who are not in the team, they are performing well [domestically] and everyone knows about it. In a sense it [competition] is a source of pressure but that is good for us especially for Bangladesh cricket,’ he added.
Sakib also said that the Tigers will think about nothing but winning.
‘I think we always play for a win as we have passed those days long time back when we used to play for a draw or playing good cricket. We now play for a win and the whole team is thinking on that line,’ said Sakib.
‘Because it is a five-day match there will be lots of sessions and hours when you need to cut short the game into small pieces. If we can win those sessions it is very much possible to win the match,’ he concluded.
-With New Age input
