ZCZC
BSP-15
CRICKET-MOMINUL-BD-A
Bangladesh A team’s SL tour a preparation platform for WTC
CHATTOGRAM, September 18, 2019 (BSS)-Mominul Haque who is made the captain
of Bangladesh ‘A’ team for their tour in Sri Lanka said the series there will
be a perfect platform for them to prepare for the ICC World Test Championship
(WTC) game.
Bangladesh will face India in a two-match Test series in November this
year in Indore and Kolkata respectively and the series will be their first
among six Test series’ in their Test Championship fixtures, which will last
until June 14, 2021.
As the top nine of 12 Test playing nations are competing in the Test
Championship, Bangladesh’s match against Afghanistan was not counted as a
Test Championship contest.
The second string Bangladesh team is comprised with several national
players who will play two-match four-day series and three-match one-day
series there.
The team left for Colombo on Wednesday and ahead of the tour Mominul said
that he is taking it as a preparation for the Test championship.
Mominul’s form in the longer version format also had a been a concern for
the national selectors for quite some time considering he is expected to be a
Test specialist and the left-handed batsmen is well aware that he needs to
sort out things quickly.
”As I play four-day cricket regularly and India series is also coming up
I think I can prepare myself in these series. Condition is very hot there in
Sri Lanka and if I can score big runs it will be beneficial for me,” Mominul
told the reporters ahead of the series.
He however added that he is not taking any extra pressure to perform in
the Test championship.
”I take every Test match seriously. I do not feel I will take Test
Championship matches anything apart from any other Test match,” he said.
”I always have a high expectation of myself but I will feel more pressure
if I take that match Test championship so seriously,” he remarked.
“I am representing my country like every other Test match,” he said.
Mominul recently toured India with the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI to take
part in the Dr (Capt) K Thimmappiah Memorial Tournament where he had a decent
outing, scoring 298 runs in seven innings at an average of 42.57.
But he however could not translate his form in the one-off Test series
against Afghanistan scoring 52 and 3 respectively.
”There is always expectation. As I only play four-day cricket there is
always expectation on me. If I think of expectation than there will be more
pressure on myself. I try to play my natural game,” he said.
Mominul added that he had given no thought on leadership role though some
corner suggests that he is leading the race as the next Test skipper
considering Shakib al Hasan is reluctant to continue as a leader.
”I have got no thoughts about that [national Test captain for the
future],” said Mominul.
”I will try to perform as a leader and try to be accountable to the
players and more importantly to my own self,” he concluded.
BSS/SMP/BZC/1855HRS