BANGLADESH TOUR OF SRI LANKA, 2025
Shadman top-scored for Bangladesh with 46 on a rain-hit opening day © AFP
Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam has defended his team’s batting unit after an average performance on Day 1 of the second Test against Sri Lanka.
Despite several batters getting starts, none managed to convert them into big scores owing to poor shot selection as Bangladesh closed out a rain-interrupted opening day.
Shadman top-scored with 46 and while most of their other batters got starts – Mominul Haque (21), Mushfiqur Rahim (35), Litton Kumar Das (34), Mehidy Hasan (31) – and looking set to capitalize their chances after battling the initial storm, they eventually lost their composure.
“You cannot score runs without playing shots. We played shots in Galle too where those ended in boundaries. But unfortunately, maybe it was not our day today,” Shadman told reporters after the opening day’s play.
“Nothing like that (trying to score at a good pace). Maybe some shots were wrong. It’s part of cricket,” he said.
“I think the wicket was a little bit slow. There was no movement in the morning but we threw our wickets away but hopefully we won’t do that in the second innings,” he said.
Shadman suggested that the rain interruption played a part in their under-par performance as batters had to start afresh after losing momentum.
“The batters need to get set again after a break. Maybe it played a role.
“No one wants to get out intentionally. Maybe it was a bad day for us,” he said
Shadman also defended their captain’s decision to bat first and insisted that if they can post something around 270 to 280 runs, it will be a good score on the slow wicket at the SSC.
“No, I haven’t seen anything like that from which we can say that the decision was wrong [opting to bat first]. The wicket was a bit slow. I hope 270-280 is a good score. If we can bowl well, we will make a comeback Insha’Allah,” he said.
“If we can bowl in good areas, then we can make a comeback as there’s help on the wicket,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s bowling coach, Thilina Kandamby, admitted that he was quite surprised with the behavior of the wicket at the SSC.
He noted that the surface at the SSC behaved in a way he has rarely seen in his 15-year playing career.
“It’s quite an unusual wicket at the SSC. Normally, you get true bounce here, but today it was a bit two-paced. The pace and bounce weren’t consistent, and the ball came off the surface slower than we expected,” said Kandamby.
“The fast bowlers really showed character. They picked up key wickets and kept us in the game,” he said.
“They (fast bowlers) focused heavily on fitness and bowling workloads, and the coaches have monitored them closely. That work is showing now,” he said adding that he is expecting out of form to come back good sooner than later.
“Prabath is slightly out of form, but we believe in his experience. I’m confident he’ll bounce back,” he said.
© Cricbuzz
