Bangladesh aren’t clearly favourites in the series-deciding second Test against Sri Lanka, scheduled to start at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque along with head coach Russell Domingo and wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim spent a long time seeing the wickets along with chief curator Gamini de Silva on Sunday.
Bangladesh will be missing the service of the country’s leading two fast bowlers as Taskin Ahmed, who was ruled out before the Test series, while Shoriful Islam was ruled out after being injured in the opening Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.
Mominul cannot decorate their bowling loaded with spinners considering Mehidy Hasan, who was ruled out before the Test series while Nayeem Hasan, who picked up six wickets on his comeback match in the two-match series opener at the port city, is also unavailable due to the injury that he received in the opening Test.
Bangladesh didn’t name any replacement for either Shoriful Islam or Nayeem Hasan with the latter expecting to be replaced by Mossadek Hossain, who is expected to be making a comeback after a gap of three years.
However, Mominul remains confident despite every odd ahead of the second Test.
“I am a very optimistic guy,” Mominul told the reporters at the SBNS on Sunday.
“As a Test skipper, I want there should couple of pace bowlers and there should be a healthy competition and so this is an opportunity for me (to see the bench strength) and see how we can develop in the future by seeing who can do what,” he said, adding that he is waiting to see how Ebadat Hossain fare in the second Test.
“I always want to remain optimistic. In South Africa’s second Test, he failed to pick the length and failed to bowl as he does but we always practice in Dhaka and I feel he (Ebadat) knows the condition well and will make a good comeback. This is a big chance for Ebadat as well as for me to see how I can continue with him,” he said.
Mominul added that he is not losing his sleep over the unavailability of Nayeem Hasan after they are missing the service of Mehidy despite the fact that SBNS surface is known for assisting the spinners to a great extent as the game progresses.
