'You've to respect the game also'

It came as a surprise when Pakistan decided to bat in their second innings rather than enforcing the follow-on despite gaining a 354-run first innings lead after dismissing Bangladesh few minutes before the lunch break on the third day of the final Test at Mirpur yesterday.

Pakistan's spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed however explained the reason behind the decision while he was talking to the press after the day's play.

"We still have two days and plenty of time left. We had a plan to bowl them out within the first hour or so to bowl again, but they [Bangladesh] lingered on a bit forcing our main bowler to bowl a longer spell; also the pitch may behave differently in the final two days. All these elements played a role for the decision," Mushtaq explained.

"This is Test cricket; you don't have to finish the game in three days. You got to be professional and see the limitation of the team and the bowlers as well. You have plenty of time left in the match and you have to respect the game also. It was a team decision and we have to stick to that," he continued.

With big total and two days in hand, Pakistan are in good position to win the Test series but Mushtaq was not ready to take everything for granted.

"Cricket is a funny game. You got to focus on what you can do well. We are in a good position but still we have to bowl well, we have to catch well, we have to field well and have to play very smart cricket and we have to be professional," he warned.

When asked about weather forecast, Mushtaq said: "We have been tracking the weather report, but you cannot control the weather."