Mominul Urges Teammates to Ignore Critics Leading into Pakistan Tests
Before the start of the first Test match versus Pakistan, the Bangladesh players have been advised by skipper Mominul to ignore critics.
Contents
Team Criticized After Poor Showing at T20 World Cup
The skipper knows that his players need to be pacified in the current state of things. In the wake of their poor showing in the T20 Cricket World Cup, Bangladesh cricketers have been subjected to scathing criticism from the media. Adding insult to injury, Pakistan clean swept the 3-match T20I cricket series ahead of the Test, as Bangladesh slumped to eight T20 losses in a row.
No Support for Players from Board
The players did not receive the support of the board in the face of the harsh reception given to the players back home in Bangladesh, worsening things.
<Mominul Speaks to Media
Speaking to the media ahead of the first Test, Mominul said,
<“This is not the first time Bangladesh has gone through such a phase. We have overcome such situations before too. People become mentally weak because they take outside talk seriously. My job is to bring back focus from thinking about what everyone is saying and focusing on our job. We have to back each other. You cannot shut anyone’s mouth, but I think you can shut off your own ears.”
Key Players Absent from Bangladesh Squad
Many key players will be missing from Bangladesh’s Test squad, including Mahmudullah, who has announced his retirement from Test cricket, in addition to Taskin Ahmed and Shakib al Hasan, both of whom are injured. Opener Tamim Iqbal’s absence also adds to Mominul’s woes as he faces a daunting task against a strong Pakistan side.
<Mominul Admits Challenging Task
Speaking to the media, Mominul accepted the team’s shortcomings:
“Of course, the opener of the second cycle of the ICC Test Championship will be challenging for us. I don’t want to call it a difficult challenge. ‘Difficult’ has a negative meaning. I don’t want to see it negatively. Tamim bhai gives us good starts that we have often capitalized on. Shakib is two players in one. Taskin has been bowling well recently.”
“We are effectively missing four players. It makes my captaincy a bit more challenging but Mushfiq bhai and I have to take on the added responsibility,”
he said adding that they need to focus on what they have considering they will be missing Tamim and Shakib for the upcoming New Zealand tour as well.
“Everyone wants results. Not just me. I think it is a good opportunity for the youngsters. You will get a picture of the direction our Test team is taking in this, and some of the future series. We definitely have long-term plans in Tests. We want to build slowly, and within a series or two we will know where our Test team stands.”
Bangladesh’s Test Record
| Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | Drawn | |
| Overall | 125 | 15 | 92 | 0 | 17 |
| Vs Pakistan (home and away) | 12 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| Vs Pakistan (at home) | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
MMominul Confident of Taking 20 Pakistani Wickets
he skipper added that he was confident of bowling out Pakistan twice even with the depleted bowling attack — comprising mainly of Taijul Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Abu Jayed — at his disposal.
Mominul added,
“Mustafizur (Rahman) hasn’t played a Test for a long time. Both Taskin (Ahmed) and Shoriful (Islam) are unfortunately injured. But we have to think about those who are in the squad.”
“(Abu Jayed) Rahi has been our leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship. Ebadot is also playing Tests regularly. We also have (Mehidy Hasan) Miraz and Taijul (Islam). I have confidence in my bowlers. I think if we bowl well, we can take 20 wickets in this game.”
BacBacks Liton Das to Come Good
Bangladesh skipper was confident that Liton Das would return strongly in the Test series after a poor show in the T20Is.
“There’s a big difference between Tests and T20Is. When we keep mentioning T20s, it becomes difficult for me. I think Liton has overcome the (mental aspect) of it. He has averaged 45-50 in Tests in the last 12 months. I think he can handle it well. He had a mental break. Everyone is supporting him.”
“There’s a big difference between Tests and T20Is. When we keep mentioning T20s, it becomes difficult for me. I think Liton has overcome the (mental aspect) of it. He has averaged 45-50 in Tests in the last 12 months. I think he can handle it well. He had a mental break. Everyone is supporting him.”
For more latest cricket news and updates, follow cric-life.com.
Pakistan will host West Indies for a 3-match T20I series that will be played in Karachi with the first match scheduled on 13th December 2021. For the same, a 15-man squad was announced by the Pakistan selectors this Thursday, and the selection raised a lot of questions amongst cricket enthusiasts and fans. Players like Imad […]
Yorkshire-born fast bowler Tymal Mills will be joining the Perth Scorchers squad for this year’s Big Bash League. The Scorchers, who were runners-up in the competition last year, secured the 29-year-old pacer following the injury of another Englishman Brydon Carse, who will be outright unable to take part in the tournament. Perth Scorchers coach Adam […]
If you’ve been in touch with Indian cricket over the last 3 months, you have undoubtedly heard the name Umran Malik. Hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, the fast bowler rocked the cricketing world when his meteor-like delivery clocked in at 152.95 km/h in the Indian Premier League, giving him the record for fastest-ever delivery bowled […]
Former South African all-rounder Lance Klusener has chosen against the renewal of his contract as Afghanistan head coach. Klusener’s tenure ends on the last day of the year after over 2 years in charge, after having taken the job following the exit of former West Indies international Phil Simmons following the 2019 ODI World Cup. […]
If reports are to be believed then, the owners of Manchester United, the Glazer Family, are looking to diversify their investments and acquire a cricket team in the upcoming 2022 UAE T20 Cricket League that the UAE Cricket Board will organise. This tournament, in all likelihood, will comprise of 6 teams, and the league in […]
According to Liton Kumar Das, his absence from the Bangladesh squad for the T20 cricket series versus Pakistan has helped him. The wicket-keeper-batter says that by excluding him from the team, the selectors have helped the player to prepare for the Test series, with the first match beginning on 26 November. As things transpired, Das […]