‘Playing like this for a year can help us learn to win Tests’

BCB director Khaled Mahmud, who went with the Tigers during the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, conceded that the wicket at Pallekelle in the first Test against the Lankans was not result-oriented but believes the Tigers can take positives from the drawn Test to continue on the same vein and learn how to win in the longer format.

"I believe it was a completely flat wicket and in this hot weather conditions, its very difficult to get a result in this kind of wickets.

However, Mahmud believes a different kind of wicket will be awaiting Bangladesh in the second Test. "I feel a different kind of wicket is waiting for us, I don't know what it will be but hopefully we're going to the ground tomorrow. It could be a seaming wicket or a spin wicket, but definitely would not be a flat wicket according to my view," he said during a recorded video message to the media today.

Both teams put on huge runs on the board with neither pacers nor spinners getting much purchase out of the pitch for a considerable amount of time to pressurize batsmen.

Khaled was optimistic of getting a better playing surface for the second Test. "Perhaps the Sri Lanka team didn't like the wicket that much as well. I feel really sorry for the bowlers from both sides since its very difficult to win a match in this wicket with the ball. We're hoping for a better wicket in next match," he says.

Despite the wicket's nature, he was very positive about the performances. The Tigers have had some pretty timid performances in recent Test matches both home and away, winning only one of their last 10 Tests. The draw against Sri Lanka was a positive in away conditions.

"Obviously it wouldn't be right to evaluate based on one innings but I believe we can hold on to our consistency with the bat and do well in the next match and then the tour of Zimbabwe. We have to have the mentality to become a proper Test side. If our boys can build themselves up and if we can compete this way in Tests, going for almost a year and drawing matches, playing better cricket and the batsmen can take responsibility at the top of the order, then there will be a time when we will learn to win Test matches, winning matches continuously. A consistency is very necessary for us now," he said.