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Not thinking of de Villiers' record - Mominul

Mominul Haque, the Bangladesh batsman, has said he is not thinking about his impending opportunity to become only the second batsman after AB de Villiers to score fifties in 12 consecutive Tests

Mohammad Isam
Mohammad Isam
08-Jun-2015
Mominul Haque could equal the record for the most consecutive Test fifties, in Fatullah  •  AFP

Mominul Haque could equal the record for the most consecutive Test fifties, in Fatullah  •  AFP

Mominul Haque, the Bangladesh batsman, has said he is not thinking about his impending opportunity to become only the second batsman after AB de Villiers to score fifties in 12 consecutive Tests.
"You remind me of it [the record] but then I forget about it," Mominul said. "I don't feel pressure. I will not think about it after you all go from here. I will try not to remember it next time too."
De Villiers scored his 12 successive fifties between November 2012 and February 2014. Mominul started his streak in October 2013 when he scored his maiden Test century against New Zealand in Chittagong. He made 13 and 68 in Bangladesh's previous Test, against Pakistan in Mirpur last month.
Mominul said he will not change his training methods, and would go about his preparation for the Test against India the same way he has throughout his career. "I am nowhere near him [de Villiers]," Mominul said. "You know he is the king of all forms of cricket. I don't think of myself as his competitor. I am not thinking about who I will sit next to, or not. I will try to achieve a similar target that I have had in previous matches. I will prepare similarly so that I can fulfill the expectation of the public and my own target."
He remained steadfast when asked if he feels the pinch of being called a Test specialist. Mominul lost his place in Bangladesh's ODI side after failing twice in the World Cup earlier this year. "It is not about whether I accept something or not. I am doing well in Tests so some people are saying I have become a Test player. They will praise me if I do well in other formats. But I don't want to think too much about it. I just need to improve where I have gaps in my game."
Mominul felt that the pitch for the Test against India at Fatullah would not have much pace. "I think the wicket will be on the slower side. I will see on Wednesday how the wicket behaves. I don't get wickets much. I try to play in this way."

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84