Bangladesh’s top all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan feels that a series against India can always prove to be beneficial as playing the most glamorous outfit in cricket world helps the minnows grab eyeballs and attract sponsors if they do well. For Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim, it gives him “an extra motivation”, while Tamim Iqbal more realistically wants to win atleast “one of the three ODI matches”.
Bangladesh’s only representative in IPl, Shakib’s view about what an India series means to the team were pretty matter-of-fact. “For me, an India series means that you can attract the attention of potential sponsors,” Shakib was quoted as saying by Bangladesh’s leading daily ‘Prothom Aalo’ ahead of the one -off Test match against India starting from Wednesday.
For Mushfiqur, the series against India is a platform where they can prove that the recent 3-0 ODI series win against Pakistan was not a fluke. “For me, playing against India gives me extra motivation as the entire cricketing world will be watching the series with a lot of interest. When we beat Pakistan in the ODI series, critics said that it was not a quality team. So there is extra bit of motivation for me to do well against India,” Mushfiqur said.
For attacking left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal, the expectations are quite realistic. “We would try our best and play to win the Test match but for all practical purposes, I would like to win atleast one ODI match during the three-match series,” said Tamim, whose six against Zaheer Khan during their upset win in the 2007 World Cup, is part of folklore in both countries.
Three pacers unlikely: Streak
Bangladesh bowling coach Heath Streak has said that the hosts are unlikely to field three seamers in the Test against India. “We are unlikely to go with a three-seam attack in this wicket,” Streak said yesterday. “We are probably looking at two but it is up to the coach and selectors, once they have a better look at the wicket as we get closer to the game,” he was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Streak welcomed the return of Rubel Hossain from injury and applauded the consistency of Mohammad Shahid, but said Bangladesh would opt for a two-prone pace attack at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium pitch here, which is not conducive for fast bowlers. “Obviously it is nice to have Rubel back in the equation. Normally wickets here are quite tough for the fast bowlers so it requires a lot of patience. I thought Shahid bowled really well in the Pakistan series and showed what he can do. Rubel has been in good form prior to his injury,” Streak said.
“Shahid for us is that dependability. He is the guy you rely on to bowl lots of overs like we saw in the Pakistan Test. He comes in, the captain sets a field and he bowls well to it. He asks the questions. He is not an easy guy for batsmen to get on top of. “Hopefully he can play that anchor role for us, with the volume of overs with one or two of the spinners and let the other seamer have an attacking option.” Bangladesh’s other seam option is Abul Hasan.
litton likely to keep wickets
Dhaka: With skipper Mushfiqur Rahim nursing a sprained finger, young litton Das is likely to be Bangladesh’s wicketkeeper in the one off-Test. Rahim had injured his ring finger during the Khulna Test against Pakistan in April. Even though Rahim was seen batting in the nets during the team’s training in Fatullah on Saturday, litton practiced keeping wickets.
Rahim’s place in the playing XI as captain and batsman is still confirmed, but the recent developments have indicated that litton may don the wicketkeeping gloves. litton, 20, may also become the first player to keep wickets in the national team after Mushfiqur took over the job in 2007. Rahim was one of the five players who were rested in the first-class game between the end of the Pakistan series and the start of the India Test. But despite getting time to recover, Rahim’s fitness is still in doubt and litton might just get lucky. litton, who has been in Bangladesh’s squad since April after he was picked for the lone T20I and the two-match Test series against Pakistan, is just keeping his fingers crossed.