Mushfiqur pleased with Test progress

Mushfiqur Rahim was relieved to see his team recover to a safe position in the second Test, which helped them draw the game and the series. Bangladesh's consistency in the second Test, after doing well in the first game of the two-match series, was also a source of respite as the side have been known to be complacent after a good game.

After drawing the Chittagong Test, the home side were in trouble in Mirpur when they were first bowled out for 282 and later conceded a 155-run deficit.

Mominul Haque's second century in successive Tests, and Tamim Iqbal's 70 in the second innings, ensured they went into the final day with a 114-run lead and seven wickets in hand. Rain washed away the fifth day, but the fourth-day comeback pleased Mushfiqur.

"After playing the first Test, often we could not take that into the second game," Mushfiqur said. "Though our batting didn't click in the first innings, we proved through the second innings that our team is maturing. The same player [Mominul Haque] proved how determined and responsible he can be and that is a very good sign. I had always said that there are lots of performers in our team so I hope they will perform in the same manner."

Mushfiqur pointed out how the team has again had to play a Test series after a gap of six months. They have gone through several such breaks over the last four years, and it has deeply affected the team. He has asked for more Tests, as he has done before, so the team can improve quicker.

"If you take the whole series into account, I think we wanted to play well in the beginning and play consistently well thereafter," Mushfiqur said. "It was not easy because we were playing Test cricket after five, six months and we could not avail the opportunity to play the longer version, so it was definitely a challenge. The way my players performed, and took up the opportunity to play under pressure, is a good sign.

"I ask whoever is in charge to give us the opportunity to play more Tests. Whether we fare good or bad is another question. If we cannot play Test cricket, how can a player like Mominul score a hundred or Gazi take six wickets? In the future, hopefully, we will play more Test matches so that we can show that Bangladesh is improving day by day."

Mushfiqur was disappointed at the way the batsmen gifted their wickets away in the first innings. "In every series all of the top six won't perform, "Mushfiqur said. "There are chances that everybody tries to take but for some it clicks and for others it doesn't. It was disappointing the way some of our batsmen went down and we need to improve on that."

He also thought Rubel Hossain was unlucky not to get wickets, while the spinners had a hard time bowling on the flat track in Chittagong, and gripping the ball on a wet Mirpur outfield. Anamul Haque's batting and the team's fielding too bothered him at times, but largely, he was happy that the team had done well and the players had also put their hands up and performed.