CHATTOGRAM, September 5, 2019 (BSS)-Despite Afghanistan put up a brave performance that Bangladesh didn’t expect, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam kept his side ahead of the visitors after first day’s game of the one-off Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.
He said that the lack of Test experience would affect Afghanistan spinners at some point of this game and so the advantage will be with Bangladesh always.
Afghanistan ended the day on 271-5, with Rahmat Shah leading the way with 102, what was the first century for Afghanistan in the Test cricket.
As Bangladesh would have to bat in the fourth innings, the first innings total of any side could be decisive. But Taijul was unfazed by the fact, saying that Bangladesh is capable to turn the things around.
“If the pitch remains same, I don’t think it would be difficult for us. If it is ODI or T20 cricket, I would have kept them ahead but it is Test cricket,” said Taijul.
“It is the matter to see how their spinners fare in the Test cricket and how their bowler can keep their patience. Because it’s a Test cricket. Their spinners even though played two Tests I don’t think they did anything extraordinary. So I will keep our team ahead.”
Taijul said that Bangladesh are not scared by the score that Afghanistan put on the board.
“It [the score] is not beyond our capacity. We have already get used to the wicket. If the wicket provides some more turn, they could fall in danger. But since there was no vicious turn, they played with ease.”
Spinners’ inability to take the wickets sparked the question whether Bangladesh should take at least one specialist pacer in the wicket. But Taijul differed with that and defended the team management’s decision of not playing any pacer, saying: “We got the kind of wicket that we expected. If we take any pacer, they might end up with bowling just three or four overs because there is nothing for them in the pitch. So it is good choice to go with all spin attack.”
He however said according to the wicket’s behaviour on first day’s game, it is good that they could take five wickets.
“The way the wicket behaved, it is okay that we got five wickets for 271 runs. They could have made 300 plus runs even and if they could do so, we won’t be surprised.” Whatever the wicket’s behavior is, Taijul himself grabbed two wickets and reached the milestone of 100 Test wickets as the fastest Bangladeshi bowler, eclipsing Shakib Al Hasan.
His 101 wickets put him ahead of Mohammad Rafique in second place just behind Shakib Al Hasan. Rafique who is the first Bangladeshi bowler to reach the milestone of 100 wickets, retired with exact 100 wickets.
“It’s a matter of joy for me. What more I can say,” he said with big smile on his face.