Bangladesh stand in captain Liton Das hailed the team effort after their 546-run victory over Afghanistan in the one-off Test today, stating that all members of the team showed character in shimmering heat for a victory.
In terms of runs, it is Bangladesh’s biggest ever victory and also the third largest victory in the cricket history.
Liton said after victory in such a dominating manner, he couldn’t have asked more on his captaincy debut.
“The weather was sometimes unbearable and the wicket was not easier. Every batter should have got the credit. To be honest, our bowlers also were up to the mark, maintaining nagging line and length. It’s a big achievement in team’s perspective. You couldn’t have asked more as a captain,” Liton said after the match.
“When we put up a good total thanks to Shanto and Joy, we believed a lot of thing will depend on the outcome of the first innings. We have bowled them out under 150, so the difference was clear. But the wicket was tough to bat on. In the second innings too, our batters showed their character. In fact it’s credit to the whole team. It was a total team effort.”
Fast bowlers performance was another thing to rejoice, Liton said. Bangladesh pacers took 14 wickets in the match, with Ebadot Hossain and Taskin Ahmed leading the way.
“We’ve never fielded three-pronged pace attack. But the wicket’s behavior demanded three pacers and we responded. There was a lot to extract from the pitch for pacer and they played their part well,” Liton revealed.
Liton further made it clear that the pacers’ good performance doesn’t mean that Bangladesh would regularly play on paced-friendly wicket at home.
“That will completely depend against whom we are playing. The case is not that we’ll play only on spin-friendly wicket or pace-friendly wicket. After looking into the opponents’ strength we’ll prepare the wicket, what is called home advantage,” he added.
After the pacer came of age, Liton felt that Bangladesh’s bowling attack is now potent enough than before.
“We have four/five pacers in the pipeline who can be included in the best XI any time. We have good off spinners, left-arm spinners and so, considering this I will tell our bowling attack has been very strong now,” he remarked.
“Yes there was an issue in our batting. If your top order doesn’t perform, then it is tough to survive in the Test cricket. I am happy that the batters performed and showed character in this Test.”
“Zakir played his third Test but he is matured enough. The same thing is applicable for Joy also. We want them to show the character. We want them to show high determination. If Zakir wasn’t trapped run out, he could have played big innings but the way he batted, I am happy,” he added.
Liton however thinks the time has come to stop talking about Shakib Al Hasan’s absence always as he believes Bangladesh would have to move forward, no matter who is playing or who is not playing.
“The thing is that you have to play with the XI you will be given. There is no time to worry about who will stay or not. Maybe after two years or four years there will come a day when Shakib will not be there. Bangladesh team has to move forward. The team we got was the best team in Bangladesh. They have played their part well,” Liton insisted.
Liton also spoke about Najmul Hossain Shanto, who became the second Bangladeshi player after Mominul Haque to hit century in both innings of a Test.
The stand in captain said change in training method is the key behind his consistency.
“Even I was at the same place like Shanto, not long ago. I spoke with him a lot. Don’t know how much that helped him, but I believe he has changed his training method and he is more organised now. Obviously, when you play international cricket for some time, you start to know what the strong and weak points are,” he said. (BSS)
