After suffering six consecutive defeats in Test cricket, Bangladesh are eyeing an opportunity to end the drought as they face struggling Zimbabwe in a one-off Test starting Saturday at Sher-e- Bangla National Cricket Stadium, reports UNB.
Right before this Test, Bangladesh faced Pakistan in Rawalpindi in the first Test of the two-match series and endured an innings defeat after a record-breaking hat-trick by Naseem Shah.
However, Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo said in the pre-match press conference that they are eager to win this game. At the same time, he said creating Test-playing culture within the playing group is one of his biggest missions now.
“Winning is of paramount importance but we do need to develop a Test culture within the playing group,” Domingo told the media in the pre-match press-conference on Friday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
“I am going into this Test as a coach more confident that any other Test because we have been together for 4-5 days.
I have never had a Test match where we flew into a place, practice a day and played a Test. The next schedule in Pakistan: we will fly in, play a one-dayer, practice and then play a Test match.
No serious Test team has scheduling like that, and we have to change that. It is a cultural thing. We have to pay a lot more attention to Tests. I have been impressed with this group of players. There seems to be a big desire to do well in the Test arena,” Bangladesh coach added.
Bangladesh might go to play this match with two pace bowlers as the head coach hinted. However, Mustafizur Rahman will not be a part of the playing XI in this Test. Bangladesh head coach confirmed that Mustafizur was recalled to the national Test squad only for making a chance for him to be closer to the new bowling coach Ottis Gibson. Domingo reckons Mustafizur has to rethink some technical issues to be able to play Test cricket again.
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Abu Jayed Rahi and Ebadot Hossain.
Zimbabwe: Prince Masvaure, Kevin Kasuza, Craig Ervine (capt), Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva (wk), Timycen Maruma, Carl Mumba, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Donald Tiripano, Victor Nyauchi.