Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha asserted that rather than paying more attention to the strength of touring Afghanistan they would be more watchful of their own muscles when they take on the tourists in the one-off Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday.
The match will kick off at 10 a.m., and GTV and T-Sports will televise the game live.
The visitors are all set to feature in the game sans their biggest star campaigner, Rashid Khan, who contributed greatly to their crushing 224-run victory last time against the same side by claiming 11 wickets in the lone Test in Chattogram back in 2019.
However, following Rashid’s dropping out of the game, a murmur is taking place in the country’s cricket fraternity that Bangladesh would have the upper hand.
‘We don't know much about them. Anyway, we take a look at the opposition's strength and limitation. But we more like 25 we focus on them, 75 we focus on what we do,’ said Hathurusingha on Tuesday in Mirpur.
‘We don't know, so we can't control about that. And the first question is, Rashid is a quality bowler. He has done well when he played last time here.’
Like Rashid Khan, Bangladesh is also going into the game without their seasoned campaigner Shakib Al Hasan, who was ruled out due to a finger strain he suffered during the second One Day International in Chelmsford, England, last month.
Still, the Tiger head coach is optimistic about the visitors with their available arsenals.
‘At the same time, we also have our one of the best players, Shakib Al Hasan, not ready. So, but we have confidence with what we have.’
Over the years, the surface of Mirpur has been termed "spinning friendly," which used to provide added advantages to the spinners.
However, in recent times, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has come out of the tradition of providing a greenish surface against their Irish counterpart in the lone Test in Aril.
Given the hosts quality pace attack, their head coach acknowledged that the changing nature of Mirpur’s wicket wouldn’t hamper them when they take on their Afghanistan counterpart.
‘I have seen green wickets here before. We played against Ireland on a green wicket. As relevant to the previous question, we have fast bowlers. So, we need to give them a condition that suits their strength.’
The veteran Sri Lankan further revealed that although the surface is looking green for now due to rain for the last couple days, it would turn out to be spin friendly over time.
‘We have good spinners as well. So, this game is only starting on a green wicket. You know that with this heat it'll deteriorate very quickly, and then it'll help the spinners in the latter parts of the game.’
‘So, I think this pitch is a good sporting wicket for everybody, the batter, bowlers – fast bowlers and spinners. So, I'd like to see a good contest.’
