Published on 12:00 AM, November 30, 2018

We want to win by attacking: Shakib

You can't always make predictions based on looking at the wicket, and that is true of pitches around the world. It's the same with Mirpur. Test cricket is a game of five days and the wicket changes from day to day, session to session. So it's best not to go in with a fixed plan -- it's better for the team to play with an open mind. --Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh skipper
Sports Reporter

A series won through the defensive route with a drawn second Test will not satisfy Bangladesh. Skipper Shakib Al Hasan and his troop are instead planning for more all-out attack to sweep the two-match Test series by winning the second Test against West Indies starting at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

The last series between the sides ended in a humiliating 2-0 defeat for Bangladesh in the Caribbean in July, which started with the ignominy of being bundled out for their lowest total of 43 in Antigua. Shakib said it will be special if the Tigers could clinch the series 2-0.

"I think it will be special for Bangladesh if we are able to win the series 2-0, and we want to win. We have taken all the preparations to achieve that but if it does not happen our aim will definitely be to win the series 1-0 as our ultimate goal is to win the series. But we don't want to win the series in a  defensive manner and we are eying a series win with a positive frame of mind," Shakib told reporters after the training session in Mirpur yesterday.

Spinners Taijul Islam (R) and Mehedi Hasan Miraz (C) share a pointer or two with Nayeem Hasan during a practice session in Mirpur yesterday. Photo: Firoz ahmed

There has been some concern that the focus on attack has also seen Bangladesh falling victim to their own trap, but Shakib said that the team management wants to ensure that the players play their natural games instead of doing something out of the box.

"I always feel one should never come out from his individual style unless there is a demand from the team. I always believe and prefer that one should never change their game plan -- if Virender Sehwag got the opportunity to strike a boundary in the first ball of a Test match he would go for it and that remains the same in T20s and also in ODIs.

Mustafizur Rahman may seem to be a permanent fixture in the squad but the pace sensation could yet be replaced by Ariful Haque for the second Test against West Indies starting today. Photo: Firoz ahmed

"I think it's important to have such an approach and I would never want a batsman who has the mindset of striking a four in the first ball of a T20 or ODI game to go and defend or leave his first ball of a Test match. I always want them to have that mindset as that's his natural game, with which he attained success and was selected for that reason. So there is no need to play differently and it's important they play their natural games. The team management never asked a player to do something out of the box," he said.

The only time Bangladesh have won a Test series against the West Indies was back in 2009 and the Tigers have a great opportunity to register their second ever series win against the Caribbean after their 64-run win in the first Test in Chattogram.

Mushfiqur Rahim's place in the squad for Bangladesh's second Test against West Indies became uncertain when the wicketkeeper-batsman injured his right thumb while training on Wednesday. As his situation improved, Mushfiqur was seen practising against spin at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. However, on the off chance that his condition deteriorates, Photo: Star

Shakib said that the Tigers will have to work really hard to avail this opportunity and that they will have to display mental strength as well as physical skill to ace the challenge.

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