‘A little patience would have been good’

"I think they bowled well throughout the day. Although the pitch was good, their bowlers showed good patience and kept bowling in one area. I think from that point our batsmen made some mistakes and if we had a little more patience, it would have been good for us."

Nazmul Hossain Shanto

Bangladesh Batsman

The key word from Bangladesh top-order batsman Nazmul Hossain Shanto after the first day’s play, which saw the visitors bundled out for just 233 runs against Pakistan in the first Test in Rawalpindi, was ‘patience’.

Despite losing both openers Tamim Iqbal and Saif Hasan within the first two overs of the day, Nazmul, skipper Mominul Haque and Mahmudullah Riyad all got starts but were unable to convert into a big partnership.

It was Mohammad Mithun who struck the only fifty in the Bangladesh innings as the visitors fell apart against a quality Pakistani bowling attack led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who bagged four wickets.

Nazmul, who was the second highest run-getter with 44, pointed to a lack of patience from the Tigers’ batsmen while praising the patience of the Pakistani bowlers, which made the difference.

“I think the score could have been better. I think we managed to come back well after losing a few early wickets. Me, alongside Mominul Haque, had a good partnership. I think we should have converted those partnerships into big ones. What I am saying is if we were able to convert those small partnerships into big ones it would have been good for us.

“I think they bowled well throughout the day. Although the pitch was good, their bowlers showed good patience and kept bowling in one area. I think from that point our batsmen made some mistakes and if we had a little more patience, it would have been good for us,” said Nazmul.

The left-hander kept saying that if they are able to bat well in the second innings there would still be a chance for Bangladesh to make a comeback in the Test match. However, that raised the question of what Nazmul was basing his confidence and optimism on. “The starts of the innings from our batters gives the confidence that we will be able to play well in the second innings.”

The left-hander was also asked whether the Test match would go till the fifth day and Nazmul said that it was important for Bangladesh to bat well in the second innings. The 21-year-old also added that the Tigers need to bowl well to bundle Pakistan out for a small total.

A defeat in this match would make it six Test losses in a row for Bangladesh, who lost all five Tests in 2019.