BANGLADESH VS AFGHANISTAN, ONLY TEST

Disappointed at not getting the pitch we wanted: Shakib

by Atif Azam • Last updated on

We were surprised when we got five wickets on the first day because we have played on a flat wicket after quite some time I think: Shakib © Getty

Bangladesh's Test skipper Shakib Al Hasan expressed disappointment and surprise alike with the wicket that they have been served for the one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram after the visitors had the hosts reeling on 194 for 8, still trailing their first-innings total by 148 runs.

"We are disappointed as we could not get the wicket we wanted considering you are well aware how we wanted to go with our playing XI," Shakib said post the second day's play on Friday (September 6). "We were surprised when we got five wickets on the first day because we have played on a flat wicket after quite some time I think. We did not expect anything like this, it's totally opposite. But that doesn't mean we won't be able to do anything good. Sometimes things become different than what we expect," he said.

Cricbuzz has learnt, through sources, that Bangladesh's team management insisted on playing two pacers in the XI, but Shakib denied the proposal citing he wanted to win using the tested and tried formula of a four-man spin attack that saw success against England and Australia at home. However, Bangladesh's spinners failed to make an impact on the opening day as Afghanistan negated them with ease, ending on 271 for 5. They then went on to add another 71 important runs on Day 2 to post a healthy total of 342 before being bowled out.

It only got worse from there for Bangladesh after Rashid Khan's four-wicket burst had them reeling on 146 for 8 before Mosaddek Hossain and Taijul Islam took them close to the 200-run mark en route their ninth-wicket partnership which stands unbeaten on 48 before Stumps. Shakib, however, put that down to Afghanistan having wrist spinners as opposed to Bangladesh's finger spinners.

"We have finger spinners they have wrist spinners. That's the only difference, I don't see any other difference," said Shakib. "(Mohhammad) Nabi took two wickets, but our finger spinners took all 10 wickets. Their wrist spinners were more effective and we don't have wrist spinners, and on such flat wickets, it gets difficult if we don't have wrist spinners. And because we did not expect this wicket, the situation is difficult for us," he said of the flat wicket on offer that has little assistance for finger spinners.

All said and done, Shakib added that he still felt that Bangladesh could make a comeback in the ongoing Test despite it being a difficult task for the hosts. "Teams do come back (after) falling behind in the first innings, it has happened for many times before. We will also try doing that same. The two wickets that have left, if they can last more and carry us forward and if we can bowl better.... It will definitely be difficult to chase on this wicket facing the spinners they have but we have that belief that it's possible (to win),'' Shakib concluded.

© Cricbuzz

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