Image Credit- AFP
In the second Test
against Sri Lanka in Chattogram, assistant coach Nic Pothas, filling in for
head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, argues that Bangladesh’s young batters are
still developing and that spectators will have to exercise patience.
Earlier this week, Bangladesh was humiliated by 328 runs in the first Test in
Sylhet. For the second straight Test, the hosts were bowled out for less than
200 in both innings, with Mominul Haque being the only player to reach a
half-century.
“We have a very
young and inexperienced group (of batters),” Pothas said. “There was
a very elite group before this. Now we have to rebuild. The only thing that we
request is that people are patient. These are very good young players, but they
are young and they are playing against an experienced team and it will take
time to learn lessons.
“We wouldn’t expect any different from our children when we put them into
new environments. We don’t expect our kids to suddenly be experts. That’s why
they go to school. So they’re a fantastic group and let’s judge them in two
years’ time rather than now.”
Pothas stated that
the young athletes from Bangladesh have the groundwork for future development.
They’ve established a joyful, mutually trusting dressing room atmosphere.
“From a hunger point of view, they want to do really well in the Test.
They always really want to do well. They are a fantastic group. They get on
very, very well. You can just see by smiles on their faces.
“I think the important thing for us as a management group is to manage the
mood of the group. As long as we are level[-headed], then we will learn, but we
certainly aren’t an emotional group. It is not an emotional change room. The
change room is very, very helpful.”
Bangladesh were
without Mushfiqur Rahim’s experience in Sylhet, and so the return of Shakib Al
Hasan is a huge boost to the home side. He is recovering from an eye condition
that had kept him out of the T20Is and ODIs earlier this month, but he did play
the Bangladesh Premier League and also in three matches in the ongoing Dhaka
Premier League.
“I think any team that has Shakib in it is very fortunate,” Pothas
said. “We welcome him back. It is always great to have him in the change
room. His energy is very infectious. He has a lot of experience for the guys to
learn from and whenever Shakib is back, he’s a giver. So we really enjoy having
him around the group.