Familiar Mirpur conditions ought to bode well for Tigers, Saifuddin believes
Bangladesh all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin thought that playing in familiar conditions in Mirpur ought to bode well for Bangladesh during their three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, scheduled to start later this month.
Although conditions always remain the same for both sides, it is something that always proves to be a crucial factor for Bangladesh players. It was the unfamiliar "clear sky" that was to be blamed for the Tigers' poor fielding during their tour of New Zealand in March this year and in their most recent two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, it was the hot and humid conditions that exhausted Bangladesh players.
After being whitewashed in both ODIs and T20s away to New Zealand in March and losing their recent Test series 1-0 away to Sri Lanka, the Tigers will be desperately looking to win the ODI series against the Lankans at home. All the three ODIs of the forthcoming series, scheduled for May 23, 25 and 28, will be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, home of the Tigers.
And Saifuddin hoped that playing in familiar conditions in Mirpur will definitely help the Tigers fare better than they did in their previous outings overseas.
"We could not play as per our expectations in New Zealand. But, as we have played a number of domestic games, premier league matches and international matches at our home condition in Mirpur, so I will try to play well if I get the opportunity.
"As we played a lot of matches here [in SBNCS] and we now have a better-balanced squad with Shakib [Al Hasan] bhai and Mustafizur [Rahman] returning [from IPL] and Taskin [Ahmed] bhai is also in good shape, so if I get the chance, or whoever gets a chance, we will try to give our best," said Saifuddin in a BCB-recorded video message after their practice session in Mirpur today.
Saifuddin also mentioned that playing in home conditions will also see the bowlers bowl more responsibly during the series.
"The first 10 overs more or less decides the fate of a game. The responsibility lies with the bowlers to bowl economically and scalp some wickets of their top order in that period. We failed to do that in New Zealand. But as we will be playing in familiar conditions in Mirpur, and as we have been practicing here for a while, we will try to play well and more responsibly."
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