Lost chance, says Riyad

Top-order batsman Mahmudullah Riyad has described the Test series against South Africa as an 'opportunity lost' for the Bangladesh players to test themselves against the best team in the world.

The last two days of the first Test in Chittagong were washed out after Bangladesh managed to take a 78-run lead. So far, the second Test in Mirpur has witnessed just 88 overs, courtesy of the three-day washout due to consistent rain.

While a series draw will help Bangladesh earn some valuable Test ranking points, Riyad reckoned that the team would have preferred playing five days of cricket instead.

"This is definitely an opportunity lost for us. It's very frustrating because we have come here to play. It doesn't matter whether you win or lose. It would have been good for us to play against the best team in the world. We could have further tested our skills," said Riyad at the post-day press conference yesterday in Mirpur.

"I think we would have taken the match-time over points any day. But then again nobody has control over the weather. Let's see what happens tomorrow," he added.

Due to the inclement weather and uncertainty of the schedule, the teams have had to go through uncomfortable scenarios in the last few days. In the last two days for instance, they were instructed to come to the field in the afternoon after the skies had cleared momentarily.

However, just as hopes of play would rise, another bout of rain would splash in to break them. It was something that left the players, especially Nasir Hossain, a bit jittery, according to Riyad.

"He [Nasir] was telling me in the morning that he wasn't feeling too good. The fact that he has been not out for two days hasn't gone on too well with him.

"I think it's a tough situation because you mentally prepare yourselves to play for five days and then it becomes frustrating when three days are washed out. What's important is to keep the focus and switch yourselves on again when you're on the field," said Riyad.

Riyad also reflected on the way Bangladesh's batsmen lost their wickets after getting good starts. There were a number of half-centurions for the hosts, however, none of them managed to score a big one.

It was an aspect that, according to Riyad, the players would have to talk about in order to find out the problem.