Never felt pressure: Mominul

"My captaincy started from the Bangladesh Cricket League and the National Cricket League. I was a bit shy and spoke less but realised I should change that. Those who are on the field will say that you have to be a bit rude and aggressive on the field as captain. Not rude, but aggressive. I even try to be strict with senior players," a smiling Bangladesh Test skipper Mominul Haque told reporters when reminded that Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan's had labelled him a 'shy' and 'soft' captain ahead of the Test against Zimbabwe.

Mominul's journey as Test captain since taking over before the tour of India has been disappointing, with the Tigers facing crushing defeats in the two-match series in Indore and Kolkata. Those losses preceded another humiliating innings-and-44-run loss to Pakistan.

Although Zimbabwe's strength as a Test side is far from that of India and Pakistan's, the innings-and-106-run win in the one-off Test -- which was Mominul's maiden win as captain -- will bolster the newly-appointed skipper's confidence.

However, the 28-year-old said that he never felt pressure as the captain overseeing the series of defeats, claiming he was focusing on improving gradually.

"I don't know whether I looked under pressure or not, but I don't think I was. I always try to hope for big things. I was never under pressure. I don't take it seriously if things don't go well at the beginning because that can happen. Things will start to improve slowly and gradually and it's important for me to improve. I am looking forward to how my team and I play in the upcoming Pakistan series. What has gone today is in the past and whatever I learned from the three defeats is important; as a captain and more as a player," said Mominul.

The cricketer from Cox's Bazar was also under tremendous pressure over his performances with the bat and Mominul responded in grand style, striking his ninth Test hundred and equaling Tamim Iqbal for most Test centuries by a Bangladeshi.

Mominul said that it always felt good to contribute as captain of the side, adding that it was important to have small contributions to the team's victory.

All nine of Mominul's Test hundreds have come at home and when asked if he was eyeing a ton away from home and hoping to win a Test abroad as a captain, the cricketer seemed positive.

"The way we want to win Tests at home, I dream of doing that away as well. For that I have to apply the seamers, so that they bowl enough overs and learn more. That was the reason we have this wicket and I think it was not a challenge for us. We were prepared for something like this and we were able to handle it well.

"The other thing is that I don't think much about scoring a hundred away from home because that is totally a mental thing. I don't want to talk too much about it. I don't want this to have a negative impact on my mind," he said.

He was also asked if off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz had found himself under pressure after Nayeem Hasan's brilliant performance, but a composed Mominul praised the youngster before urging the media not to hype up his success considering that he had played just five Tests.