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Mominul waits for a call on Taskin


Bangladeshpost
Published : 03 Dec 2021 08:59 PM

Bangladesh Test skipper Mominul Haque insisted they will wait till the last minute to take a call on pace bowler Taskin Ahmed’s inclusion in the series-concluding second Test against Pakistan, scheduled from November 4.

Taskin, who missed the opening Test after being ruled out due to an injury in the last game of the three-match T20 series, returned back to the squad.

“I think we have to see him till tomorrow to decide if he (Taskin) can play,” Mominul told reporters on Friday.

“But I think he (Taskin) is ready for New Zealand,” he said.

Mominul also added that Shakib, who is returning from injury was “looking good”.

“Shakib bhai makes it easy to make a team combination. He is looking good. He has recovered from the injury. He makes life easier for any captain. He is important for the team combination. His return is a positive thing,” he said.

Mominul also expects the pitch to be different for Pakistan as opposed to the one against Australia, which was a spinning track.

“It will be the normal Mirpur wicket. We all know it is difficult to predict. But I don’t think it will be how we played against Australia,” said Mominul.

“Everyone from sub-continent plays spin very well, so it is better not to give them a spin wicket. I think everyone else would do the same. I prefer a flat wicket,” he said.

“I also don’t agree that professional cricketers should give wicket or anything as an excuse. A pro cricketer has to play well in a paddy field. We are certainly professionals,” he said.

Mominul added that they have included Naim Sheikh in the 20-member squad despite the lack of first-class cricket considering they don’t have enough options in their hand.

The inclusion of Naim, who is a regular face in Bangladesh’s limited-over cricket, raised quite a few eyebrows considering he last played a red-ball game back in February 2020.

Naim, who has played only six first-class games, earned a pair in his last long-format match and was not considered anywhere in red-ball cricket since making his T20 debut.

“We don’t have enough openers. Naim is someone who has been playing international cricket regularly. He has played T20s recently, which is why he missed a lot of first-class cricket.

We wanted an opener who has been playing international cricket. An opener from domestic cricket would have a tough time adjusting in this situation. We also have to consider the New Zealand tour,” said Mominul.

“It definitely matters (whether we are playing red or white ball cricket). But we don’t have a backup opener. We can prepare an opener who has already played in one international format already, recently,” he said

“Opening combination could be lefty-righty,” he concluded hinting that uncapped Mahmudul Hasan might make the cut.