Coach Hathrusingha defends team strategy  

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha defended the decision of his side’s strategy to go with one pacer, stating that conditions played an important role in taking such move.
He also explained that the Indian batsmen were vulnerable to the off-spinner in the past few series which prompted them to pick up the off-spin service of Shuvagata Hom, a player whose inclusion has been questioning repeatedly.
“I think we have made progress, we can see it from the result. Sometime we were limited in certain ways because we were limited in various ways,” Hathurusingha told the reporters after first day’s play yesterday.
“We have made progress in lot of ways, at this stage we are playing with one fast bowler because of the condition, not that we have not progressed.”
Experts believed that Rubel Hossain should be included into the playing squad given the nature of surface in which a fast and aggressive bowler could extract some life.
“He (Rubel) is coming after an injury and he was not hundred percent fit. The other reason is that this wicket, we thought that if Rubel has to play and he has to bowl a lot then there is a chance of a reoccurrence of his injury because he didn’t get a chance to play practice matches,” the coach clarified.
“We cannot control the Indian strength, what we can control is what we do with our resources. We are keeping Rubel for the one days. It’s very crucial for us to win the one-day match knowing that if we win at least one game we have a chance of qualifying  for the Champions Trophy. So if the conditions, is different, we would have played another seamer.”
There was also debate with the inclusion of Shuvagata Hom whose off-spin is yet to be clicked despite Hathurusingha’s insistence to stick with him.
“The reason to pick the spinner is again because of the condition and the wicket. The other thing is having a variety of spinners and taking the Indian team’s history for last few series, a few off spinner have been successful against them, that’s another factor as well,” he defended.
The Sri Lankan however doesn’t give up the hopes of winning the game despite the Indian surged towards a big total after ending the rain-affected first day on 239 for no loss.
“We still want to win. We are still playing to win that’s what I can tell you. I don’t see anything different in the body language. Only thing is the scoreboard said 239 for no loss. But in cricket anything can happen. Until both sides finish at least one innings I can’t come into conclusion whether we have done the right or wrong thing,” an optimistic Hathurusingha said.
He thought the story could have been different if they could grab the chances which came to their way.
 “We picked the team we thought was good for the wicket and according to our strength. I think we created enough chances, but few things didn’t go our way.  
Had we taken those opportunities, it would have been a different story.”
Hathurusingha termed the wicket as flat but still remains puzzled thinking that it could behave another way at some point of the game. “To be honest, this is probably the most flattest wicket I have seen so far close to the one we played in Khulna, that was similar, at least there were little more help for the bowlers, but you never know this could be a different wicket at the end of day five.”
Despite not getting any wicket and leaked runs in generous way, he thought leg-spinner Jubair Hossain Likhon created chances but was without luck.

Coach Hathrusingha defends team strategy

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha defended the decision of his sides strategy to go with one pacer, stating that conditions played an important role in taking such move. He also explained that the Indian batsmen were vulnerable to the off-spinner in the past few series which prompted them to pick up the off-spin service of Shuvagata Hom, a player whose inclusion has been questioning repeatedly. I think we have made progress, we can see it from the result. Sometime we were limited in certain ways because we were limited in various ways, Hathurusingha told the reporters after first days play yesterday. We have made progress in lot of ways, at this stage we are playing with one fast bowler because of the condition, not that we have not progressed. Experts believed that Rubel Hossain should be included into the playing squad given the nature of surface in which a fast and aggressive bowler could extract some life. He (Rubel) is coming after an injury and he was not hundred percent fit. The other reason is that this wicket, we thought that if Rubel has to play and he has to bowl a lot then there is a chance of a reoccurrence of his injury because he didnt get a chance to play practice matches, the coach clarified. We cannot control the Indian strength, what we can control is what we do with our resources. We are keeping Rubel for the one days. Its very crucial for us to win the one-day match knowing that if we win at least one game we have a chance of qualifying for the Champions Trophy. So if the conditions, is different, we would have played another seamer. There was also debate with the inclusion of Shuvagata Hom whose off-spin is yet to be clicked despite Hathurusinghas insistence to stick with him. The reason to pick the spinner is again because of the condition and the wicket. The other thing is having a variety of spinners and taking the Indian teams history for last few series, a few off spinner have been successful against them, thats another factor as well, he defended. The Sri Lankan however doesnt give up the hopes of winning the game despite the Indian surged towards a big total after ending the rain-affected first day on 239 for no loss. We still want to win. We are still playing to win thats what I can tell you. I dont see anything different in the body language. Only thing is the scoreboard said 239 for no loss. But in cricket anything can happen. Until both sides finish at least one innings I cant come into conclusion whether we have done the right or wrong thing, an optimistic Hathurusingha said. He thought the story could have been different if they could grab the chances which came to their way. We picked the team we thought was good for the wicket and according to our strength. I think we created enough chances, but few things didnt go our way. Had we taken those opportunities, it would have been a different story. Hathurusingha termed the wicket as flat but still remains puzzled thinking that it could behave another way at some point of the game. To be honest, this is probably the most flattest wicket I have seen so far close to the one we played in Khulna, that was similar, at least there were little more help for the bowlers, but you never know this could be a different wicket at the end of day five. Despite not getting any wicket and leaked runs in generous way, he thought leg-spinner Jubair Hossain Likhon created chances but was without luck.