Liton Das, who will lead the side in the one-off Test against Afghanistan in the absence of injured Shakib Al Hasan, is keen to test their abilities on a green pitch, reports BSS.
He said his team is confident to overcome the challenge and win the Test.
The Test, which begins from June 14 will be held at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, a ground where spinners always rule, but for the Test against Afghanistan it was covered with green grass, making it a perfect pitch for the pacers.
Many believed Bangladesh produced a green pitch to neutralize the effect of Afghan spinners, who are still quite capable of scything down any batting line-up despite the absence of star spinner Rashid Khan.
Liton said it was just a case to test them, but he admitted they will play on this kind of wicket for this series for the time being.
"It's quite normal to play on a normal wicket against a team like this," Liton said here today. "We also have a quality pace attack. So it is very normal."
"Mirpur has always had turning wickets when we played here. So, our challenge will be how to play better on a grassy wicket and how to prolong our innings."
Having said that, he indicated they would play with five genuine bowlers, a thing that Bangladesh were never used to, at least in home conditions.
"When you play on an even wicket, it is tough without five bowlers. And I always prefer to go with five bowlers on a wicket like this."
In that case, Bangladesh will go with three pacers along with two spinners in Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Liton, however, said he loves to see Miraz as a batter also.
At the same time, Liton looked unfazed by the absence of Shakib Al Hasan, who generally gives the team a cushion of an extra player in both batting and bowling.
According to Liton, Shakib's role is more important in ODI and T20 cricket than in Test cricket.
"Shakib always gives balance as he can bat and bowl both. In Test cricket, we have players to bowl in long spells. His absence may hurt our batting in Test cricket but I think we have players to cover up that. But in the ODI and T20 format, it is really tough without Shakib."
Afghanistan, which will be playing Test cricket in two years, will come here with an inexperienced side against whom Bangladesh should win effortlessly. Moreover, Rashid's absence made their task easier.
But Liton doesn't want to take anything for granted.
"We would have taken it seriously even if they had Rashid Khan. We'll continue to play the same cricket. We have also had a break from Test cricket. The last time we played was in April. Then we played white ball cricket. I think we are better than them in one aspect: we have been playing Test cricket for a long time, our maturity level is also higher because we cricketers play a lot of Test cricket now," Liton revealed.
"Still, at the end of the day, if you don't perform well on the field and can't execute your plan, it will play a negative role. Of course, we have less idea about their cricketers because they have played more ODIs and T20s. It is difficult to judge their Test credentials. We have a plan up our sleeves. If we can execute it, it will be good."
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
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