Shakib issue ‘doesn’t affect the team’

Despite the ongoing discourse on whether Shakib will tour with the squad in New Zealand, Bangladesh fielding coach Mizanur Rahman Babul stated that such concern doesn't impact the dressing room.

With the rain having halted the proceedings of the second Test's proceedings, as merely seven overs were bowled on the second day, the fielding coach attended the press conference yesterday where the environment of the dressing room was called into question following Shakib's application for withdrawal.

"It's the board's and Shakib's personal matter whether he will go or not. However, this doesn't affect the team.

"If anyone doesn't want to go, there's no scope of thinking about him. The team gets strengthened if Shakib and other good players are in the squad," Babul said.

Bangladesh's seamers had a disappointing outing with the ball despite the presence of a wet wicket and overcast weather and Babul didn't forget to show his disappointment on the seamers either.

"Actually, our pace bowlers didn't bowl well. The condition was in favour of them but they failed to perform and take the advantage of it," he added .

"If we compare with Pakistan, our pace bowlers are either mentally weak or if they try to improvise something to scalp a wicket, they seem to have a hard time," Babul concluded.