Bashar backs Tanzid for big future after debut dismissal

Bangladesh chief selector Habibul Bashar backed debutant Tanzid Hasan Tamim for a bright future in Test cricket after his promising but brief 26-run innings on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan in Sylhet on Saturday, while also hinting at a long-term plan for uncapped squad member Amite Hasan.

Tanzid, playing his first Test innings, made an eye-catching start before falling for 26 off 34 balls attempting a pull shot off Mohammad Abbas — a dismissal that left Bangladesh at 44 for two in the first session. Despite the early exit, Bashar was measured but optimistic about what he saw.

"It would have been better if the innings was bigger. He made a good start. He looks good, but definitely he still has a long way to go," Bashar told reporters during the first day's play. "I believe he can go a long way. So just first Test, first innings — maybe there was a bit of nervousness working. But he is a good player. Hopefully in future the innings will become bigger. Because getting big runs from the opening position is very important for us. So I hope his next innings will be bigger."

When pressed on whether Tanzid's aggressive approach in difficult morning conditions was the right one, Bashar was supportive of the way the left-hander went about his innings.

"He is actually this type of batsman and when we picked him, he was told to bat in his own way. In the morning the conditions were not easy. I think a little counter-attack was needed too. Although we lost a lot of wickets in the morning, which was not ideal. But the way we wanted him to bat, he batted that way. But definitely in Test cricket he has to make the innings bigger. I am hopeful that maybe we will see that in future," he said.

Bashar also addressed the case of Amite, the uncapped squad member who has not featured in either of the two Tests against Pakistan. Mushfiqur Rahim had earlier spoken glowingly about Amite's potential, suggesting the youngster has the qualities to become a player of similar stature. Bashar confirmed the selectors share that belief — and that the plan for Amite extends well beyond this series.

"Look, whenever we take someone into the squad, we do so believing he has the ability to be in that squad or to play in the XI. But because of team combination, many times some players cannot come into the playing XI. But it does not mean we have no future plan regarding him," Bashar said.

"Whoever we have taken, we have taken with a future plan in mind. We selected them after seeing their capability. So Amite Hasan maybe did not get the opportunity in these two Test matches, but we will play many more Test matches in future. If the combination matches, then he will definitely play. We have not taken him only for this series — we have taken him thinking long-term," he added.