Bangladesh’s ace-all-rounder Sakib al Hasan must come up with his best to help Tigers earn their maiden Test win against Pakistan, skipper Mushfiqur Rahim said on Tuesday. Tigers will take on Pakistan in the final match of the two-match Test series at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday. Bangladesh achieved their maiden Test draw against Pakistan in the first match at Khulna and a win in this match will ensure them a historic series win.
‘I am looking forward to him [Sakib al Hasan],’ Mushfiq told reporters at the match venue.
‘If he can do exceptionally well then surely we can win this Test match,’ said Mushfiq.
Sakib had been the major contributor for the Tigers across all formats and his service had been crucial in most of the Test matches where they had done reasonably well or achieved victory.
But that had not been the case in the recent times as he was far from his best in the Test format.
If the hosts are to take 20 wickets and beat the visitors in the last Test then certainly he needs to pull up his socks to guide his team, especially in the bowling department, believed Mushfiq.
Without Sakib’s note-worthy performance it is thought to be extremely difficult much alike Pakistan, who are struggling due to the off-form of their ace-spinner Saeed Ajmal.
Pakistan had opted to ignore Ajmal in the opening Test match after his below-par performance failed to put an impact on the opponents during the shorter version matches earlier in the tour.
Though Sakib hardly have any chance of facing the same fate barring injury, it is high time that he comes up with his best, preciously in the bowling department.
Sakib picked only two wickets in his last two Test matches raising bit of a concern in the mind of Test skipper Mushfiq.
‘You can say it’s a bit of a concern,’ said Mushfiq.
‘Because he is our leading bowler it is expected that he will pick five or six wickets,’ said the skipper.
‘When he failed to do so, it seems that he could not deliver according to his reputations,’ he said.
Mushfiq added that he is optimistic regarding Sakib as the match is happening at SBNS.
Sakib had always been a major contributor in the venue for the Tigers.
In the 12 Test matches that he has played so far here, he picked 43 wickets and scored 956 runs with an average of 43.45.
Sakib managed to score altogether 2860 runs from 38 matches in his Test career.
In the last game against Pakistan at this venue, Sakib scored 150 runs and picked seven wickets that included his 144 runs in the first innings followed by 6-82 from 40.5 overs.
Though Bangladesh don’t require him to blaze with the bat as often as he used to do in the past considering the new-found depth in their batting they would want him to be taking the major role in the bowling department.
With Rubel Hossain being ruled out the responsibility lies even greater on the broad shoulder of the southpaw.
‘Sakib always had done well in Mirpur,’ said Mushfiq.
‘If he can to do what he did earlier in this venue then [it is possible],’ he said.
-With New Age input
