I never thought even in my dreams that I will be the captain of Bangladesh: Mominul Haque

It is no secret that Virat Kohli’s consistency across all formats has the cricket world in awe. Bangladesh’s newly-appointed Test captain Mominul Haque has also hailed Kohli as the best player in the world.

Kohli, who has been rested from the on-going T20I series against Bangladesh will return to captain Team India in the two-match Test series scheduled in November. Mominul also revealed that he was left surprised after being named Bangladesh’s Test captain last month. However, he is eager to encounter the top-ranked Test side in the world.

“I am very excited as I think (Kohli) is the best player in the world, the best batsman in all formats combined. Thinking about that makes me feel good,” Mominul said as quoted by TOI. “I was not ready at all. It was completely unexpected. I never thought even in my dreams that I will be the captain of Bangladesh or I will captain the Test side,” added Mominul.

‘It is a very good chance to play good cricket’ – Mominul Haque

Haque will be leading Bangladesh in Tests after ICC decided to ban Shakib Al Hasan for two years for failing to report approaches made to him by a bookie in the past. He has delivered impressive performances with the bat in his red-ball career. The left-hander has amassed 2,613 runs in 36 Tests at a staggering average of 41.47. He also holds the record of being the only Bangladesh batsman to smash hundreds in both innings of a Test match.

Haque, while insisting that captaincy won’t affect his playing style also stated his views regarding the usage of pink ball in Test cricket.

“We have not played a Test under the floodlights and with the pink ball. It is a very good chance to play good cricket,” said the Bangladesh Test skipper.

“I never considered captaincy as pressure or responsibility. If I keep thinking that as a captain I have to take extra responsibility to carry the team forward, then I will be in some pressure.”

India will lock horns with Bangladesh in the first Test starting from November 14 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. The second Test, which will be the first day-night Test hosted by India is scheduled from November 22 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.