Bangladesh Opener Shadman Islam Stands By Batters After Sri Lanka Test Setbacks

Shadman Islam Stands Behind Bangladesh Batters After Day One Setbacks

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

Shadman Islam's solid 46 was a highlight for Bangladesh. © AFP

Despite several batsmen managing to get starts, they were unable to convert them into substantial scores. This was largely due to questionable shot selection, ultimately leading to Bangladesh concluding a rain-affected first day with a less than satisfactory performance.

Shadman himself led the way with 46 runs. Other batsmen, including Mominul Haque (21), Mushfiqur Rahim (35), Litton Kumar Das (34), and Mehidy Hasan (31), all showed promise. However, after weathering the initial challenges, they struggled to maintain their composure and capitalize on their opportunities.

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

When asked about their approach to scoring, Shadman clarified, "Nothing like that (trying to score at a good pace). Maybe some shots were wrong. It's part of cricket."

He added, "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."

Shadman also suggested that the interruptions caused by rain impacted their performance, as batsmen were forced to readjust after losing momentum.

"The batters need to get set again after a break. Maybe it played a role," he said. "No one wants to get out intentionally. Maybe it was a bad day for us."

The opener defended the captain's decision to bat first, asserting that a score in the range of 270 to 280 would be competitive 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 stated.

"If we can bowl in good areas, then we can make a comeback as there's help on the wicket," Shadman concluded.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's bowling coach, Thilina Kandamby, expressed his surprise at the behavior of the pitch at the SSC.

He commented that the surface was playing unlike anything he had experienced in his 15-year career.

"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.

"The fast bowlers really showed character. They picked up key wickets and kept us in the game," he added.

Kandamby praised the fast bowlers' dedication to fitness and workload management, noting the positive impact of the coaching staff's monitoring. He also voiced his confidence in Prabath, who is currently out of form, to make a strong return.

"They (fast bowlers) focused heavily on fitness and bowling workloads, and the coaches have monitored them closely. That work is showing now," he said. "Prabath is slightly out of form, but we believe in his experience. I'm confident he'll bounce back."