Shadman Islam Defends Bangladesh Batting Lineup After Subpar Performance Against Sri Lanka

Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam voiced his support for the team's batting lineup following a challenging first day in the second Test match against Sri Lanka.

Shadman top-scored for Bangladesh with 46 on a rain-hit opening day © AFP

While several Bangladesh batters managed to get starts, they failed to convert them into significant scores. Poor shot selection plagued the team, leading to a disappointing close to the rain-interrupted day.

Shadman Islam led the way with 46 runs. Other contributors included Mominul Haque (21), Mushfiqur Rahim (35), Litton Kumar Das (34), and Mehidy Hasan (31). After weathering the initial challenges, the batsmen struggled to maintain their composure and capitalize on their opportunities.

Speaking to reporters after the day's play, Shadman defended the aggressive approach. "You cannot score runs without playing shots. We played shots in Galle too where those ended in boundaries. But unfortunately, maybe it was not our day today," Shadman stated.

He dismissed the notion of deliberately trying to accelerate the scoring rate. "Nothing like that (trying to score at a good pace). Maybe some shots were wrong. It's part of cricket," he added.

Shadman also commented on the pitch conditions, saying, "I think the wicket was a little bit slow. There was no movement in the morning but we threw our wickets away but hopefully we won't do that in the second innings."

The opener suggested that the interruptions due to rain hampered their performance, forcing batters to rebuild their innings repeatedly. "The batters need to get set again after a break. Maybe it played a role," he explained.

"No one wants to get out intentionally. Maybe it was a bad day for us," he said, reflecting on the team's overall performance.

Defending the captain's decision to bat first, Shadman expressed optimism about posting a competitive total. He believes that a score around 270 to 280 would be challenging on the slow surface at the SSC.

"No, I haven't seen anything like that from which we can say that the decision was wrong [opting to bat first]. The wicket was a bit slow. I hope 270-280 is a good score. If we can bowl well, we will make a comeback Insha'Allah," he said confidently.

He further emphasized the importance of disciplined bowling. "If we can bowl in good areas, then we can make a comeback as there's help on the wicket," he added.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's bowling coach, Thilina Kandamby, expressed surprise at the pitch's behavior. He noted the unusual conditions at the SSC, a stark contrast to his 15 years of playing experience.

"It's quite an unusual wicket at the SSC. Normally, you get true bounce here, but today it was a bit two-paced. The pace and bounce weren't consistent, and the ball came off the surface slower than we expected," said Kandamby.

He praised the efforts of his fast bowlers, stating, "The fast bowlers really showed character. They picked up key wickets and kept us in the game."

Kandamby also highlighted their focus on fitness and workload management, adding, "They (fast bowlers) focused heavily on fitness and bowling workloads, and the coaches have monitored them closely. That work is showing now." He expressed confidence in Prabath's return to form, saying, "Prabath is slightly out of form, but we believe in his experience. I'm confident he'll bounce back."