'We are ready for it' - Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque optimistic ahead of first Test against Pakistan

Mominul Haque took over as the Test captain of Bangladesh last year after Shakib Al Hasan was handed a ban and his very first series saw a disappointing end as the Tigers lost to India 0-2 in a two-match away series. Haque’s next test begins on Friday when Bangladesh take on Pakistan in the first of the two-Test series starting in Rawalpindi. The 28-year-old Mominul will also be hoping to hit good form with the bat.

‘The Tigers‘ arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday in the second phase of their tour. They went there to play in a three-T20I series that the hosts won 2-0 with one match getting abandoned. There were some concerns over the security arrangements but the Bangladesh cricket authorities expressed satisfaction following which the team reached Pakistan for the long format.

On Thursday, the visitors had a training session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium ahead of the match and will look to put their disappointing outings of the recent past back. Bangladesh were even beaten by Afghanistan in a Test match at home last September before the humiliation they faced in India.

The second match against India was a day-night affair which got over in just over two days. They also have a poor Test record against Pakistan — having lost nine of the 10 matches they have played while one ended in a draw. During their 2003 tour of Pakistan, Bangladesh came very close to winning a Test but Inzamam-ul-Haq’s heroics denied them the victory as the hosts won by a wicket.

Pakistan have just won a two-Test series against Sri Lanka 1-0 and will be confident against the Tigers in the upcoming series.

‘We are hopeful to win the match’: Mominul Haque

Speaking on the eve of the first Test, Mominul told the reporters at the venue: “At some point of time we have to break the losing jinx and we are ready for it. We had a good preparation and considering everything, we are very hopeful with the match.”

“We are not good in overseas conditions and now we are trying to start performing (well) from here on. Overall, we are well focused and we believe we can play good cricket,” he said, adding that the match is a part of the Test Championship makes it even more important for Bangladesh.

Pakistan have 80 points from four matches in the World Test Championship while Bangladesh are yet to open their account after two games. Mominul also spoke on the importance of adapting to new conditions and sounded confident that his team could do it successfully in Pakistan, where the temperature is low.

Mominul said opener Tamim Iqbal will not find it difficult to adapt to the conditions while making a Test return after almost a year but rued the absence of the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim who pulled out of the tour citing security reasons. He though added that it will create an opportunity for the new players to make use of.

“When you don’t have one of the best players you have otherwise, it is difficult. But on the other hand you can say that it’s a good opportunity for new players and we are looking forward to it,” Mominul added.

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