Dejected Mominul shows no excuse for humiliating defeat

 DHAKA -Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque cut a forlorn 
figure after a humiliating innings and 8-run defeat in the second Test 
against Pakistan today at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. 

   The defeat was more painful for Bangladesh team, specially when persistent 
rain and bad light halted the game for the first three days. The third day 
was entirely washed out while only 6.2 overs were possible on day two.

   Literally the defeat came within just two and half days, putting a 
question on Bangladesh's ability to play the Test cricket. 

   "It was a disappointing performance, particular our batting. There's no 
excuse. We batted poorly. The top four were not good. We lost seven wickets 
in one session on the fourth day. We are making the same mistakes again," a 
dejected Mominul said after the match today.

   After this defeat, Bangladesh were swept in both two-match Test series and 
three-match T20 Internationals. 

   Pakistan declared their first innings at 300-4 and then wrapped up 
Bangladesh's first innings for 87 on the fifth day morning. Bangladesh were 
14 runs behind to avoid the follow-on then. Desperate for a victory, Pakistan 
captain Babar Azam enforced a follow-on and his bowlers went all out attack 
to dismiss Bangladesh for 205 in the second innings in dying light. 

   Bangladesh resisted through Shakib Al Hasan who socred 63, Mushfiqur Rahim 
with 48 and Liton Das with 45 but none could save them from the humiliating 
defeat.

   "It was tough to bat out there but Mushfiq bhai, Shakib bhai and Liton 
tried hard. I think Mushfiq bhai took the right option (in the first innings) 
to play square of the wicket. Liton could have hit a four off that ball (in 
the first innings). You can't play too defensively in these wickets," he 
said.

   Mominul, a part of the top-order was out for single digit in both of the 
innings and he also blamed himself for this defeat.

   "I think I made a silly mistake (in the first innings). I shouldn't have 
taken that hurried single. It was a bad dismissal," he opined. 

   "Runs are important regardless of the format. It is difficult to play if 
you only focus on defending the ball. I think Mushfiq bhai was unlucky. If 
his bat was slightly grounded, he would have been saved."

   He went on to saying: "Shakib bhai and Miraz nearly got over the pressure. 
I think Miraz played too defensively against the offspinner, which cost him 
his wicket. If he was positive, he would have connected the ball properly.

   Bangladesh players rash shot is believed to cause their downfall in both 
of the innings but Mominul looked disturbed when the question was thrown at 
him.

   "I really don't think we played aggressively in either innings. I am 
really surprised with your question. If you keep defending the ball, when 
will you score the runs? Those who got out, they were taking a calculated 
risk. You feel this way because they got out. You have to take runs when it 
is available. I think things would have been easy had our top four made runs. 
When you don't score in the top order, life becomes difficult for the rest of 
the line-up," he said. 

   "I think when you are playing on a turning wicket, you can't defend too 
much. Say you are facing a left-arm spinner, playing through point is a safer 
option than playing through the covers. If you play against a right-arm 
spinner, playing through the covers is harder than playing him through 
midwicket or mind-on. I think everyone got out playing with the spin. You 
have to score runs. You can't just keep defending the ball. The question 
comes up because they were getting out."

   Out of frustration, Mominul also said he is unable to reform the Test side 
as under his captaincy, Bangladesh is yet to win any game apart from a lowly 
Zimbabwe side. 

   "I have been unable to reform the Test side. At the end of the day, 
everyone wants results. I don't think anyone here believes in the process. 
Without results, it is very difficult."BSS