CHATTOGRAM, Feb 7, 2021 (BSS) – Bangladesh Test captain believes that the absence of Shakib Al Hasan played a key role in Bangladesh’s heartbreaking defeat in the first Test against West Indies at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
The skipper said Shakib’s bowling and guidance as a senior player in the field was badly missed on the fifth day when West Indies was chasing a stiff target of 395.
Bangladesh in fact was expecting to win the Test after setting such a big target, considering that in Asian region, no one could successfully chase such a total and even in world cricket, very few teams could achieve this chase successfully.
But West Indies did the unthinkable thanks to a herculean knock by debutant Kyle Mayers, who struck an epic 210 not out of 310, clobbering 20 fours and seven sixes.
Mayers played the Bangladesh spinners, sans Shakib, with ease even though the pitch played its trick, providing uneven bounce and suddenly being kept low.
But the spinners could not be smart in utilizing the pitch well and here the absence and guidance of Shakib was badly missed.
“If Shakib bhai had been there, we could be smart enough in utilizing the pitch well,” Mominul said here.
“Since he is a senior player, he could tackle the situation. I missed him specially during the bowling on day five.”
After scoring 68 runs in batting and bowling six overs, Shakib suffered a fresh thigh injury and couldn’t come back to the ground after day two game. He didn’t bat and bowl in the second innings. Shakib was playing this game after recovering from a groin injury.
West Indies overnight pair—Mayers and Nkrumah Bonners thwarted Bangladesh in the first two sessions on day five to keep the side in the hunt. During the Tea break, Shakib was seen giving the spinners—Miraz, Taijul and Nayeem some tips.
It worked well as Taijul struck in the first over after Tea to remove Bonner on 86 to break the 216-run fourth wicket partnership. Soon after that Nayeem dismissed Jermaine Blackwood to bring back Bangladesh in contention. But they were just unable to resist Mayers, who was utterly determined to seal the deal in style.
However, Mominul said he had also faith on the other spinners as they won Bangladesh game in the past but according to Shakib’s guidance in bowling was missed.
“It was the first time Shakib bhai played any Test when I am playing as captain. But in the past despite the absence of Shakib, our spinners—Taijul, Miraz did well. We have a good bowling attack but if we could bowl in some tight length, we could have done well,” he said.
“They are really good bowlers and won the matches for Bangladesh. But we are unfortunate today that we couldn’t bowl in right areas and couldn’t create enough pressure,” he added.
BSS/SMP/FI/ 1930 hrs