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August 17, 2024
Spin Consultant Mushtaq Ahmed Confident in Bangladesh’s Progress, Cites Shakib and Mushfiqur’s Impact
Bangladesh’s spin-bowling consultant, Mushtaq Ahmed, believes the team is on the right track and could soon start winning more matches abroad. He also highlighted the positive influence of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim in boosting the team’s morale ahead of the Test series against Pakistan.
“All the players are excited about the first Test match,” Mushtaq said. “Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim are the senior players. They are playing a positive role with the guys. I also give credit to the management who has been good with the players. The focus is on cricket now.”
The Bangladesh cricket team arrived in Pakistan on August 13, invited by the PCB, after political unrest in Dhaka prevented them from holding a full practice session with head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe. Shakib Al Hasan joined the team in Lahore later that day after playing for Bangla Tigers Mississauga in the Global T20 Canada.
During his time in Canada, Shakib faced controversy, including a loss of his parliamentary seat and being booed by fans after the fall of the Awami League government in Bangladesh. He also missed the toss in an eliminator match, leading to a forfeit.
Meanwhile, Mushfiqur Rahim is playing in a four-day match against Pakistan A in Islamabad. This game is a rare link between Bangladesh A and the senior team’s tour, providing crucial game time for Mushfiqur, who hasn’t played a Test match in ten months. Other key players like Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Nayeem Hasan, and Hasan Mahmud are also participating in this match.
Bangladesh have only won one Test series of two or more matches abroad, against West Indies in 2009. But Mushtaq believes they could start winning more Test matches away from home.
“A cricketer has to have basics and belief to do well at this level, otherwise he loses the battle,” Mushtaq said. “Skill-level looks after itself. We will give them the belief that you can beat anyone. Bangladesh is a good side. You saw that they challenged good teams in the World Cup. They are getting good fast bowlers. They are going towards a good direction. If they keep learning and keep believing in themselves, hopefully, they can start winning games outside.”
Mushtaq Ahmed praised Bangladesh’s spinners for their eagerness to learn and their openness to his advice. He highlighted the significant progress of legspinner Rishad Hossain, who, under Mushtaq’s guidance, became one of the top wicket-takers at the recent T20 World Cup, finishing as the joint fifth-highest.
“The spinners are very mature. They are keen to learn. My role is to talk about tactical and technical things. You have to wait for the technical things for after the match. Tactically, you have to tell the spinners which angle to use, how to read the pitch, what pace to use, field settings for particular batters. You need reminders despite your experience.
“Taijul [Islam] and [Mehidy Hasan] Miraz are match-winners. They are a great bunch of guys. They are coachable people. They are good listeners. I am honoured to be working with them. Hopefully, I can make a difference for them.”
England Lions Build Strong Lead Against Sri Lanka in Tour Match
On Day 2 of their tour match in Worcester, England Lions extended their first-innings lead to 185 runs over Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, struggling against the inexperienced Lions team, were bowled out for 139 in 43.5 overs. No Sri Lankan batter reached 30, and Zaman Akhter of Gloucestershire took 5 for 32, marking his second five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
The Lions, who led by six runs at the end of Day 1 despite losing four wickets, capitalized on their advantage. By the end of Day 2, which was shortened by rain, Hamza Shaikh scored 91 and Kasey Aldridge added 78 in a 104-run partnership. Jayasuriya took 5 for 102, but Lahiru Kumara struggled, conceding 92 runs from 18 overs.
The Lions are fielding a weakened team, including debutants Shaikh and Farhan Ahmed. Farhan’s older brother, Rehan, has played for England across all formats.
The ECB has withdrawn only one player, Josh Hull, from The Hundred. Hull, who has played twice for Manchester Originals, is the only player pulled from the competition, which features many of England’s top young talents.
Sri Lanka’s squad, having not played a Test since their tour of Bangladesh that ended in early April, is preparing for their upcoming series against England. Most players haven’t had first-class action since their domestic four-day tournament concluded in early May. Vishwa Fernando, who isn’t playing against the Lions, took 12 wickets in two appearances for Yorkshire in June.
After their tour match in Worcester, Sri Lanka’s 18-man squad will head to Manchester for the first of three Tests against England, starting on Wednesday at Emirates Old Trafford. They will be joined by former England batter Ian Bell, who will serve as a batting coach for the series, bringing valuable local insight.
Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for The Wicket Insider, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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