Hosts Bangladesh are confident of earning a positive result in the forthcoming home series against an inexperienced New Zealand side, Tigers vice-captain Mahmudullah said on Friday.
New Zealand, featuring plenty of young blood after injuries to senior players significantly weakened the squad, will take on the hosts in the first match of the two-Test series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium from October 9-13.
The Black Caps are missing experienced left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, opening batsman Martin Guptill and fast bowler Tim Southee, all of whom are nursing injuries, and have included two uncapped players in their squad – leg-spinner Ish Sodhi and batting all-rounder Corey Anderson.
‘They are a bit inexperienced,’ Mahmuduallah said at the ZACS indoor facility, where the Tigers had retreated for some practice after the first day of the three-day practice match at the MA Aziz Stadium was called off on Friday.
‘[New Zealand’s inexperience] was raised in our discussion, though we are thinking more about ourselves rather than others.
‘We feel that if we can perform to our potential than we have all the chance to beat them.’
Mahmudullah said that Bangladesh would try to improve their Test ranking by earning some positive results against the Kiwis and hinted that they would try to field an attacking playing XI by including three pace bowlers if the conditions allow.
‘We are not thinking too much about our ranking, though we must admit that our form in Tests is a concern.
‘We have played well in Test matches but somehow could not get positive results. If we can get them, the ranking will automatically go up.’
‘We will try to make the team combination according to the condition. If the wicket is seamer-friendly we will go for three pace bowlers, but we don’t know how it will behave,’ Mahmudullah said.
That could mean an opportunity for uncapped pace bowler Al Amin Hossain, who was named on the squad for the first Test after his tremendous performance for Abahani Limited in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League, where he had taken 18 wickets in six games prior to his call-up.
Mahmudullah also expressed his disappointment in not getting the opportunity to play the first day of the practice match, as it would have given the side a chance to play with the red ball ahead of the Tests.
‘We haven’t played the longer version of cricket for a long time and it would have been ideal to get some match practice,’ he said, ‘It would have been even better for me, as I would have got the chance to spend some time in the middle.’
The right-hander said he was not concerned about his own form, which had dipped substantially in the last two series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
‘I don’t think there is anything wrong with my batting, though I did not fare well in the last two Test series,’ he said.
‘Perhaps I was not getting set before playing my shots and that was a mistake that ultimately made me lose my wicket early.
‘But I am not feeling any pressure whatsoever and remain absolutely comfortable.’
-With New Age input
