Bangladesh assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin has admitted his side fell 50 to 60 runs short with the bat and that the bowling was “all over the place” on day two of the Mirpur Test, but insists the side can still fight their way back into the match.
The opening day had belonged to Bangladesh. The second belonged entirely to Pakistan. Resuming on 301 for 4, Bangladesh were bowled out for 413 before Pakistan closed emphatically on 179 for 1, with two debutants at the crease and the momentum firmly in their favour.
“Pakistan bowled very well in the morning. Building the innings was very difficult for us. Still, we crossed 400, though another 50 to 60 runs would have been much better. I think our bowling was a bit all over the place today,” Salahuddin said.
While Bangladesh’s pace trio of Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain and Nahid Rana struggled for consistency on a pitch carrying a touch of grass, Mohammad Abbas quietly dismantled the innings with control and precision. The Pakistani seamer added four wickets on day two to his one from the first, rarely exceeding 130 kilometres per hour yet never missing his areas.
Salahuddin acknowledged the gap in discipline between the two attacks. “He does not miss his areas. He can bowl consistently in the same spot, and that is one of his strengths. Since there was a bit of movement on this wicket, he used it very well.”
Mushfiqur Rahim, who resumed on 48 on his 39th birthday, was dismissed for 71 by Shaheen Shah Afridi, a dismissal that also ended any hope of a larger total. “If Mushfiq could have batted a bit longer, maybe we would not have been this disappointed,” Salahuddin said.
The more puzzling aspect of the day was Bangladesh’s failure to trouble two debutants. Opener Azan Awais closed unbeaten on 85 and Abdullah Fazal on 37 not out, with Bangladesh’s bowlers rarely threatening despite conditions that should have suited them.
Salahuddin was candid about why. “When bowlers see grass on the wicket, there is always a chance they become overexcited. It was very important for us to stick to good areas, and perhaps we failed there. Compared to Pakistan, we bowled a bit too fast. Hitting the right areas was far more important.”
Despite the difficult day, Salahuddin has not given up on the Test. “Since this is Test cricket, there is always a lot of room to bounce back. We will reassess where exactly we need to bowl on this wicket. I think we can come back strongly again tomorrow.”
