Without being unduly bothered about their prolonged absence from the longer-version of the game, the Bangladesh national team players were instead upbeat about getting back to the number one form of the game; Test cricket.
Terming the five-day game as the best form, both Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan and new head coach Stuart Law echoed the sentiment on Monday that the fourteen-month gap from Test cricket would not be a big issue when they take on Zimbabwe in Harare in the lone Test match from August 4.
The Bangladesh team will leave Dhaka tomorrow to play in one Test and five one-day internationals during their 26-day trip in Zimbabwe.
“I’ve always said that Test cricket is the best form of cricket. It is a complete test of what a player is capable of. It is challenging because we’re playing a Test after a long time and we are playing them in their own conditions. But everyone should be excited about the fact that we are going to play Test cricket again after a long gap and I’m sure they’re interested to do well in the Test,” said captain Shakib while speaking in an official press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Stuart Law didn’t get enough time to share his ideas with the boys ahead of the important trip, especially considering that the players were involved in one-day and T20 cricket for the best part of the last one and half years, but the Australian looked at the positives ahead of his first assignment with the Tigers.
“It’s a different mindset. The boys have played a lot of one-day and Twenty20 cricket so it’s not ideal. On the other hand, they should be excited to be getting back into Test match cricket, which for me is the number one form of the game. Hopefully the boys will react to it that way. It’s an opportunity as well to take a step up that ladder,” said Law when asked about Bangladesh’s absence from Test cricket for the last fourteen months.
The new coach also said that it’s all about the mental approach, which has to change when the boys shift their focus to the longer version from the shorter ones.
“I don’t think there is any pressure to show that we are better. Zimbabwe had problems off the field but look, they’ll be a tough unit. It’s going to be a tough test obviously.
“But it’s not a skill problem as I’ve seen. The players are highly skilled. It’s a mental problem — mental approach has to change in Test cricket. They have to find a tempo that suits Test cricket with their batting. I’ve set a challenge for us to bat 120 overs in the first innings,” said Law praising the players’ fitness training in the last couple of months.
The recent record against Zimbabwe is definitely in favour of the Tigers but still Shakib showed respect to his opponents considering the fact that the weather and conditions will favour the home team. Zimbabwe have also done well in their preparation games against South Africa A and Australia A to mark their return into Test cricket after a five year self-exiled break.
“I think we are the favourites but I won’t say that we are too far ahead since we’re playing in their weather and conditions and playing after a good gap, but still, I think we’re the favourites,” said a confident Shakib.
In recent times, the Bangladesh bowling has mainly depended on the slow bowlers but it’s unlikely that they will get any favours in Zimbabwe, so the absence of front line bowlers like Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Shahadat Hossain is cause for much concern for the Bangladesh captain.
But Shakib still retained his faith in his young pace attack.
“I think (Shahadat Hossain) Rajib is a huge loss. He’s been our best Test bowler for quite a while. But those who are in the team, they’re bowling well. I think they’ve the ability to take wickets,” said Shakib, who also rated left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak highly for his last year performance.
The under pressure Bangladesh skipper, who came under scrutiny after criticizing selectors which was followed by his non attendance in training without permission, also said that this tour has created an opportunity for him to prove himself off the field.
“Definitely opportunities come all the time. It depends on you when you want to change your attitude and the way you go about your work. I think it’s a great opportunity to prove myself,” said Shakib.
-With The Daily Star input
