Bangladesh cricket team captain Najmul Hossain showed unwavering support for struggling all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan during a post-match press conference. The media’s questions regarding Shakib’s form prompted the skipper to express his astonishment before dutifully defending his teammate and senior player.
Shakib’s lackluster performance during the series opener has sparked significant discussion within the cricket community. Many experts are attributing this decline to his advancing age and questioning his overall fitness, particularly his ability to endure the rigors of five-day Test matches.
An examination of Shakib’s recent on-field activities reveals a troubling trend. In the first Test, Shakib failed to live up to his reputation. His 21 overs yielded no wickets, and his batting performances were far from his usual high standards, scoring only 32 and 25 runs in the two innings. Additionally, Shakib was seen chewing on his helmet strap—a seemingly trivial act that nevertheless drew attention and concern from commentators and fans alike.
Bangladesh’s batting coach David Hemp later discussed the incident with Cricbuzz, and while he downplayed its significance, it nevertheless added another layer to the ongoing discourse about Shakib’s current state. Another point of contention was the timing of Shakib’s introduction into the bowling attack. Surprisingly, he was brought into action only after 50 overs in the first innings, leading to speculations about whether he was nursing a finger injury. Yet despite these controversies, Najmul remained staunch in his defense.
Najmul emphasized the importance of hard work and team spirit over individual statistics: “As a captain, honestly, I look at how much hard work a player is putting into his game. Whether he is struggling enough to make a comeback. For me, what is important is their intention towards the team and how much they are willing to give.”
He went on to add, “I try to look at everyone in the same way, whether it is from Nahid Rana to Mushfiq bhai. More than whether he is scoring runs or not, I look at his preparation and his thinking about the team. I am happy with the way that every member of this Test squad has prepared and been willing to give to the team.”
Najmul further clarified his tactical decisions during the match, explaining that the dominance of the pace bowlers and the effective bowling by Mehidy Hasan Miraz reduced the need to call upon Shakib earlier. He also confirmed that Shakib had been dealing with a bleeding finger injury from a previous hit.
“I didn’t really need him (Shakib) in the first innings, seeing how the three pace bowlers were doing. Miraz too was bowling well. It was my plan to keep the fast bowlers on for longer. We took six wickets quickly too,” said Najmul.
He also expressed his discomfort with the media’s focus on individual performance: “His finger was taped.
. He was bleeding from his finger from the last time he was hit there. I don’t feel comfortable talking about a player’s individual performance. This is a team game, and only a whole team’s contribution makes it possible to win a game.”
Looking forward, Najmul remained optimistic and avoided making excuses about the type of cricket ball used, even though the team is more accustomed to Kookaburra balls rather than SG balls. Bangladesh’s batting struggles saw them being bundled out for a mere 149 runs in the first innings and only managing 284 in the second inning while chasing a hefty target of 515.
“I don’t think the ball was a big issue. It is just a ball. There’s obviously a difference between Kookaburra and SG balls, but the players adjusted to it. We can’t say that we played poorly because of the type of ball.”
Regarding future improvements, Najmul highlighted the need for better partnerships and careful batting, especially in the early innings, to strengthen their standing in the next match. “We didn’t bat well in the first innings. It was a very important phase of the game. We could have been in a better position if we had at least one top-order partnership,” he said.
Najmul conveyed the lessons learned from the game and expressed hope that his batters would perform better in the next Test match. “In terms of learning from this game, I think it is very important that the top order, especially in the first innings, should have been more careful. We need to put some runs on the board. Going forward, all the batters think that they can come back in the next Test.”
He concluded on an optimistic note, underscoring the significance of time spent on the wicket and the promising 62-run partnership between the openers, which they can build upon in the upcoming match. “It is important to spend time on the wicket. But it wasn’t enough. Still, it will help for the second Test. It was very important for the openers to put on 62 runs. That’s one thing we can look forward to in the next Test match.”
With a captain who exhibits such unwavering belief and optimism, Bangladesh will be eager to bounce back stronger in the subsequent Tests, striving for better individual and team performances.