Bangladesh are yet again encountering a crisis in the vital number three position in the one-day format after their experiment with left-handed batsman Mominul Haque backfired
in the ongoing three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe.
It was filled by the experienced Mohammad Ashraful in the Test matches but since Ashraful was promoted to open the innings in the one-dayers, the number three position was vacated and the team management tried to seal the plug through Mominul.
Though there is no doubt regarding his technique and temperament that he had displayed in abundance in the Test matches so far, however, the need to settle in the number three slot in the shorter format seems to be a bigger task for the little batsman.
Mominul appeared to be more comfortable in the Tests than in ODIs as he scored 208 runs in five Test innings with an average of 41.60 but his performances in the shorter format left a lot to be desired.
In seven one-day internationals so far, he could accumulate only 142 runs averaging 20.28 with a strike rate of 59.91 which somewhat proves his inability to cope with the requirement.
Although he struck two half centuries in the Test matches against Sri Lanka, he could not convert his form to the one-dayers but whether it was his deficiency or the management’s is a question yet to be answered.
Mominul usually bats at number four to six in domestic cricket implying his preference to play when the ball is usually older and to someone like him, asking to come up trumps against the new ball is certainly not going to happen overnight.
He is yet to acquire the know-how of batting in the number three position that became evident in the first two matches against Zimbabwe as he scored just 38 in the opening game and followed it up with a painstaking 24 in the second.
It seemed as though he lost all his confidence in the second match as he was lucky not to get out thrice that not only hampered him but the team as well.
Former national skipper Khaled Mahmud emphasised on the importance of playing someone in the right position to get the best out of him.
‘Everyone should bat at his usual position. Mominul (Haque) is a middle order batsman so he is facing the difficulty batting up the order,’ said Mahmud.
-With New Age input
