Spinners to play key factor in Ctg Test
Sports Reporter
Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak praises the selection of Bangladesh Test squad for the first Test against the visiting England side, stating that spinners will be the X-factor in Chittagong condition in the opening Test.
With ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam, three off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Mahmudullah Riyad and Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury in Bangladesh side. Apart from them, part-timer leg-spinner Sabbir Rahman is also in the home side. England on the other hand increased their spinning strength as they took Jafar Ansari and Gareth Batty alongside Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali.
The squad in Test has been better considering the tracks of the sub-continent especially Chittagong. I think the selectors have taken a well-judged decision. I have seen and heard discussion from media about the team. There needs to play more spinners against England, said Abdur Razzak yesterday.
Normally the wickets in Chittagong are spin-friendly, where spinners will be ahead of the pacers. Both sides give more emphasizes on spinners, Razzak told The Independent after his gym session at the BCB Gymnasium.
You all get to see if you look at their squad. I think the spinners will be the key factor and decide the fate of the Test match in Chittagong, he added.
The experienced spinner said that they all should look the selection positively whether it is selected by the team management, selectors and coaching staffs.
First of all, the decision has been taken by the team management, selectors and coaching staffs. They all selected the team considering all the things in mind. But there will be opinions from different quarters regarding the squad, the 34-year-old bowler said.
But it seems to me that it is difficult to judge in such way. In our country, we have not huge number of quality players. Again, all the four rookies will not play in a match. We should look it positively. We should pray for all of them so that they could do well for us, he also said.
When asked to tell about the rookie Mehedi Hasan Miraz, who broke into the Test just from Under-19 team, Abdur Razzak said that they should give him time to be groomed properly.
He is a good spinner. I dont say at this moment what he will do if he gets chance to play in Test. He had been playing in National Cricket League (NCL) with me last two seasons. It will be a wrong if we expect a big from him not to give him much more time to be flourished. He will be turned to be a good player if we could give more time, Razzak said.
Drawing a comparison between Miraz and Mosaddek Hossain, the once spin-spearhead of Bangladesh said, It has been given more priority on spin. So, Miraz is the right choice for the team. If it would be taken a batsman-cum-spinner then Mosaddek was the right option. I think selectors think in that way. I think Miraz will stamp his mark in his debut Test to start a bright career.
Citing the names of England, Australia and South Africa teams, Khulna-born spinner said that every team take their best preparation to face spin or pace attack prior to making their tours.
In modern cricket, the notion has been turned to be vague. An English cricketer is playing good at different condition against spin or pace. Every team tries to take the best preparation before holding their tour, he said, adding England, Australia and South Africa is seaming condition. But they are not lagging behind us now. There are some players in Test squad of the current England side who has ability to strike century or double century at any condition.
Razzak, who played 12 Tests and took 23 wickets for Bangladesh, think that the condition would not be big problem or challenge for the touring side. But I think they should take the home advantage.
Bangladesh will play the Test match after 14-month-long hiatus. It has been a matter of watching now how Mushfiq and company will do in the Chittagong Test, which will start at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) in Chittagong on October 20.
