Najmul Hossain Shanto and his team had Sri Lanka reeling at 48 for 4, but the decision to declare with five overs still remaining on the day raised eyebrows. Many observers felt that Bangladesh, under Najmul Hossain Shanto’s leadership, might have played it too safe, potentially letting Sri Lanka off the hook.
Despite a rain-affected morning session, Bangladesh held a commanding 187-run lead when they resumed batting at 177 for 3. However, instead of accelerating, the scoring rate remained conservative. The tourists added just 60 runs in 19 overs before rain intervened again, shortly after Mushfiqur Rahim was run out for 49.
With Najmul Hossain Shanto nearing a century, the team batted for another 11 overs, allowing him to achieve a historic feat: becoming the first Bangladeshi captain to score twin centuries in a Test match. Yet, this milestone was accompanied by a perception that Bangladesh had settled too early, rather than pushing for a more dominant victory. Najmul Hossain Shanto, however, offered a different perspective.
“I didn’t feel like that,” he stated. “On Day 5, we expected the wicket to behave a certain way. We wanted to reach a position where we couldn’t lose, but still had a chance to win. But the rain changed our plans.” He emphasized their initial intent to win, adding, “Early in the morning, we were watchful to see how the wicket behaved. Still, we scored at three runs per over. If we had batted until lunch, the scenario would’ve been different…we needed at least 60-70 overs. I’m not worried – because with whatever time we had, our bowlers took four wickets.”
Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed immense satisfaction with his twin centuries, attributing his success to thorough preparation back home. He chose to keep the reasons behind his animated celebrations private, stating, “I had a plan. I still have one match left so I don’t want to reveal too much… and I was clear what I wanted to do, so I am really happy.” He also addressed the social media trolling he’s faced due to recent batting struggles, asserting, “I look to improve myself every day, rather than focusing on what anyone is saying. It is more important whether I am enjoying my cricket, or whether I am able to contribute to the team.”
He highlighted the importance of his contribution to the team, asserting, “There will always be criticisms and discussions but the main thing is how I can contribute to the team. Whether my work ethic and intention is right or not. It is pleasing that I tried to contribute to the best of my ability.”
Najmul Hossain Shanto believes the draw will boost Bangladesh’s confidence heading into the second Test. He also praised the dedication of off-spinner Nayeem Hasan, who stepped in for the injured Mehidy Hasan Miraz. “Miraz is a very important player… His replacement Nayeem Hasan bowled really well. We are really happy with him. He doesn’t get enough chances to play due to the combination. Nayeem has an outstanding work ethic… I think it’s a great example for other players who are waiting for their opportunities. He properly used it, so I am happy for Nayeem,” Najmul Hossain Shanto remarked.
Looking ahead to the next match, Najmul Hossain Shanto confirmed Miraz’s health and anticipated his return. “This match will definitely give us confidence. Miraz is fully healthy. We are hopeful he can return to the side in the next match. We will face a different condition there… We have to understand those conditions to select the team. We will know our batting approach once we see the conditions,” he concluded.
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