MominulHaque has stressed that he isn’t sweating over Bangladesh’s poor record in New Zealand and is focused on starting well in the two-Test series. Bangladesh have played nine and lost all their Test so far in New Zealand.
“There is no point thinking about our past record because thinking over it will not take you anywhere,” he started. “I am excited about starting well in the New Year, rather than thinking about what happened in the past. Starting well gives more chance of doing well in subsequent challenges.
“I know we haven’t done well in New Zealand, but it is best to be optimistic if we want to do well in the present. We usually win when we play well as a team, regardless of where we are playing. If we don’t combine, I don’t think we can get a good result. I think even if someone scores a hundred or a double-hundred, we need bowlers to take the 20 wickets. Everyone has to chip in, for us to do well. New Zealand is always challenging for us, especially their pace attack. We know it well.”
Mominul acknowledged he’s particularly excited to see how the pace bowlers perform in helpful conditions. “Taskin, Ebadot, Rahi and Shoriful have done well recently. We also have Khaled and Shohidul. So we have a number of pace bowlers in our side. I am excited to see them do well, especially after how they have improved over the last 12 months,” he said.
“I think the wicket will be good for batting while there will be something for the bowlers as well. The first one and a half hours will be testing and that has always been the case here and if we can handle that successfully it will be easy to bat on.”
With TamimIqbal’s unavailability, Bangladesh have been forced to look for a new opening combination. The prospect of MahmudulHasan, according to Mominul, is bright. “Our No. 1 opener Tamim is missing. He is one of the best openers in the world. So we are trying to replace him in this series,” he said.
“When I saw him (Mahmudul) score the century against New Zealand in the Under-19 World Cup, I got excited regarding him and he might be the next superstar, although we shouldn’t say it in the media. I am impressed by him, and hopeful that he will play good cricket.
“We have to adjust to the crosswinds in New Zealand grounds. We are working hard on the technical and tactical sides of fielding.”
