‘Bhalo Bhalo’ – Mohammad Rizwan shares a smile with Liton Das after encouraging Pakistan bowlers in Bengali

Mohammad Rizwan and Liton Das were involved in a moment of camaraderie during the opening Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Chattogram. In the first day of the game, Liton and Mushfiqur Rahim scripted a comeback for the Tigers, who were reduced to 49 for four in 16.2 overs. The duo put on 206 runs for the fifth wicket to bring their team back into the game.

Rizwan, in the meantime, was trying to keep the bowlers in high spirits. When Liton was five runs short of his half-century, Rizwan tried to encourage left-arm spinner Nauman Ali in Bengali. Rizwan was heard saying ‘Bhalo Bowling’ (Good bowling) before the tweaker was about to deliver the ball.

After Nauman bowled the ball, Rizwan again said ‘Bhalo Bhalo’ (Good Good). Das, who was on strike, looked back at Rizwan and gave a smile. Rizwan also shared a smile with the Dinajpur-born cricketer.

Break from T20s helped me in Test cricket, says Liton Das

Liton ended up scoring 114 runs with the help of 11 fours and one six before Hasan Ali got rid of him at the start of the second day’s play. The youngster didn’t get a chance to play the T20Is against Pakistan, but reckoned that omission from the shortest format helped him focus better on Test cricket. Das also pledged to show a little more consistency going forward.

“I think it’s the result of the break I was given in the T20Is. Maybe they (team management) wanted me to do well in the Tests. It is always a great feeling to reach a century. I got close to getting it against Zimbabwe in our last Test. But it is part of cricket. I would have been happier had I made this hundred a bigger one,” Liton had said to the reporters after Day two.

“It is always a difficult question about consistency. Everyone tries to be consistent. I will continue the process of my last six or seven Tests. I can’t expect to score a hundred in my next innings. I have to start from zero next time. It is always a challenge, but I will try to stick to my process,” he added.