We don't have the strength to face a number of fast bowlers on a grassy wicket: Mushfiqur Rahim

Bangladesh cricket team has achieved another amazing feat on Wednesday by defeating Australia to gain a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series. The main architects of the win were undoubtedly the Tigers’ spin attack, driven by their veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. Captain Mushfiqur Rahim, however, has no rest and is worried about his pace attack.

Banking on Hasan‘s brilliance and support from fellow spinner Taijul Islam, the hosts clinched a victory from Australia’s grasp at the Sher-e-Bangla International Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. However, skipper Mishfiqur Rahim still has some areas of concern and the main reason for his untimely headache is his pace attack. Rahim feels that the pacers must enhance their game now and has also admitted that they lack the strength to face a number of pace bowlers on a grassy wicket.

“We have a lot to do in pace bowling. After Robiul and Zia took 5 wickets in Zimbabwe, I remember no fast bowler of Bangladesh could so far make a five wicket haul although we appeared in a number of matches in this period of time. We have no strength to play a number of fast bowlers preparing a grassy wicket,” said the skipper.

Spinners will not do the job every day

The reason why Mushfiqur wants his pacers to do well is that he is well aware of the uncertainties of the game and knows that his team might land in deep waters when the spin attack backfires. “The team does not have an experienced pacer like Pat Cummins. Spinners will not always do the job for the team. When fast bowlers provide support, the task becomes easier for spinners. We will try our best to make better contributions in pace bowling in the near future,” he said.

Hinting at another slow-turner waiting for the Aussies at Chittagong, the skipper signed off by saying “Bangladesh should prepare wicket according to their strength. We will determine the team combination after observing the wicket in Chittagong.”