Bangladesh will aim for a rare slice of history when they take on Sri Lanka in the second and final Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Colombo today, hoping to seal their first-ever Test series victory over the hosts.
Former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar has voiced support for under-fire opener Anamul Haque Bijoy, suggesting that the team management should give the struggling batter "one more chance" despite a poor showing in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Come June 26, Bangladesh will be completing its 25 years in Test cricket.
Sri Lankan great Angelo Mathews received a warm reception from the Bangladesh team during his farewell Test in Galle, which ended in a draw yesterday. The visitors gave him a guard of honour during his first-innings walk to the crease and later greeted him warmly after the match.
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto defended his decision to declare late on the fifth day of the first Test in Galle, citing rain as a key factor that disrupted their plans for an earlier declaration.
Yet, despite the individual brilliance, murmurs of doubt persisted over Bangladesh’s approach, particularly their intent, or the lack thereof, in pursuing a win.
“As a leader, he’s shown great character, which will benefit the rest of the team.”
Unbeaten centuries from Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim on the opening day of the Galle Test yesterday brought welcome relief to Bangladesh cricket, who have been under scrutiny in recent months for both on- and off-field issues.
Bangladesh batter Mushfiqur Rahim has backed skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto to go on and convert his century into a double, after both reached three figures on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Tuesday.
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and chose to field first in the second T20I of the three-match series against India in Delhi on Wednesday.
When Shanto was asked in the press conference whether the brand of cricket Bangladesh play is not good enough, he said: “I won’t say it is bad, but I think we are a better team than this. We have not been doing well in this format for a while but I don’t believe we are this bad.”
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto rued poor planning and not putting enough runs on the board after getting drubbed by India by seven wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior yesterday.
“Who are you comparing whom with?” Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto said when a journalist asked a question drawing comparison between Mahmudullah Riyad and Shamim Patwari.
Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha admitted that the gulf in skill and quality between his side and India led to the crushing defeat seven-wicket defeat in the second and final Test at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto blamed batters for getting set and then throwing their wickets away after a seven-wicket defeat to India in the second Test in Kanpur today.
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto said it was frustrating not to be able to play due to rain after Day 2 of the second Test against India in Kanpur was washed out.
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto today said that it was his decision not to use Shakib a lot, simply as the wicket favoured the pacers more during the first three days.
In the pre-match press conference ahead of the opening Test against India in Chennai yesterday, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto was asked whether their historic 2-0 away series victory against Pakistan recently has added some pressure on the team as part of heightened expectations from the fans and experts.
The palette has been served, and now it is up to Bangladesh to make their case.
