Difficult when you don’t have one of your best players – Mominul on Mushfiqur

Bangladesh Test skipper, Mominul Haque, said on Thursday that they were looking forward to breaking out of their current losing jinx, with the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan, slated to begin in Rawalpindi from today. Bangladesh arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday, and the tourists had their only training session ahead of the opening Test at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday (February 6).
Bangladesh, who will begin their 2020 Test journey with this series, will be eyeing a new beginning, hoping to leave behind their recent disappointment in Test cricket.
Bangladesh haven’t had a great time in Test cricket in recent times, having ended up on the losing side against New Zealand, Afghanistan and India since 2019. Also, they have lost nine of the 10 Test matches they played against Pakistan, with the other being a draw.
They come on the back of two heavy defeats against India, both of which they lost by an innings margin, while Pakistan seem high on confidence, after clinching the series against Sri Lanka in December.
The last Test match between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Pakistan took place more than 16 years ago, and it was a heart-breaker for Bangladesh. But the tourists can take inspiration from the fact that Pakistan have not won a Test in Rawalpindi for 23 years, losing thrice in their last four outings.
“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,” Mominul Haque told reporters at the Rawalpindi Stadium ahead of the opening Test on Thursday.
“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 now has some extra meaning as it is a part of the ICC Test Championship.
“After the Test Championship, every match is important for every team. It is as important for them, (as it is) important for us.”
Mominul said that they were looking forward to adapt to the conditions and believes that they have the ability to adjust to the cold that is prevailing in Pakistan.
“You have to adapt to the conditions everywhere you go and we are doing the same and I think the conditions (here) are good, apart from it being a bit cold. But we can absorb it,” he added.
“The practice wicket and match wicket might differ, so it is difficult to say how it will behave. We have checked the wicket and we will take decision (about the playing XI) tomorrow morning.”
Mominul said that he doesn’t feel Tamim Iqbal will find it difficult to adapt as he returns to the Test side after nearly a year, having played his last Test in Wellington in March 2019.
Bangladesh will be looking towards the experienced Tamim to bring back the confidence in their top-order. He comes on the back of his record-breaking triple hundred in the Bangladesh Cricket League, which he played as part of his preparation for this series.
“Tamim bhai is a world class player so I don’t think it will be difficult for him to adapt after a gap. He played a good innings in the BCL and we are confident he will get accustomed to it,” the skipper said.
He further added that Mushfiqur Rahim’s absence, who opted out of travelling to Pakistan due to security reasons, will be hard to fill considering he held the middle order firmly for the last nine years, but quickly added that it was also an opportunity for a youngster to prove his spot.