BAN vs SA Test series: Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain said Mehidy Hasan needs to fill the huge void left by star all-rounder Shakib al Hasan before the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa.
Filling Shakib’s Shoes
An optimist, Najmul admitted, “There’s no one else who came close to Shakib in terms of being easy to replace.” He is hopeful about Mehidy, who has been brilliant in batting as well as bowling. From 2022 to date, Mehidy played 12 Tests where he scored 600 runs at an average of 35.29 and took 48 wickets at 3.25 economy.
Embracing The Challenge
“It is tough to replace him (Shakib), “ Najmul said. “We are trying to find the right combination, and it’s going to take some time. But I think our boys can look for their places.”
He talked about the problem with changing the composition of the squad and said that No. 7 would be the all-important position for the team. “We don’t have anyone similar to Shakib, but Miraz (Mehidy) could be an even better option,” he said.
Also Read: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Final: South Africa And New Zealand Battle For Glory
Growing Burden Of Mehidy
Of course, Najmul praised Mehidy’s recent improvements. According to him, “He is bowling and batting superbly. Miraz is ready to take on more responsibilities, and he has been instrumental in our recent performances. I hope he can eventually step into Shakib’s role in the coming years.”
Commenting On The Absence Of Shakib
Najmul was also reflective of Shakib not being able to play his final Test at SBNS, and clearly, the team is expected to learn from this experience and push on for the series ahead. “We had plans to honor one of the world’s best players, and, unfortunately, his retirement feels pending,” he said as part of his grief.
New Coach Phil Simmons
Bangladesh enters a Test series, and Najmul will face the dual challenges of missing Shakib and a transition under a new head coach in the shape of Phil Simmons. “A lot of things have changed recently,” he said. “The new coach is still trying to get a feel of the team and I have communicated my plans to him.”
Focusing On The Future
Najmul stated that they must look forward rather than pay much attention to the previously experienced coaching. “We had our share of ups and downs with the previous coach, but we have to focus on this Test”.
Looking For First Win Against South Africa
With Bangladesh failing to win a single match against South Africa, Najmul perceives this as a golden opportunity, more so considering it is being played on home soil. “This is a great chance for us, particularly against a relatively young Proteas side,” he said.
He says their performance recently in Pakistan gives them a lot of confidence coming into this series. “If we can dominate each session, we will have a good chance,” he added.
Tapping Spin In Mirpur
After crossing pitch conditions at Mirpur, Najmul felt that spinners would play the key role in the Tests ahead. “Spinners generally play a huge role here. They should keep doing their thing and target taking 20 wickets,” he concluded.
With high hopes and a strategic approach, Bangladesh is looking forward to making history against South Africa in this highly-anticipated Test series.
