Hyderabad: Bangladesh may have put up a strong fight on Saturday but Sunday's first session will be crucial according to highest scorer Shakib Al Hasan. “I think that session will decide the fate of the match. We have to bat really well. For us, it is still a long way in this Test as India is on the front foot right now,” Shakib said after the third day's play.
Captain Mushfiqur Rahim is at the crease though and Shakib feels he has the ability to come good with the tail batting around him. “He likes to get involved in everything,” he said, before praising his skipper for the unbeaten 81. “He had to be patient today for he needed this half-century that is coming after a long gap. He did just what the team needed today.”
Shakib clarified there was no advice given to Rahim to give up wicket-keeping to focus on batting. “He loves to do both and that it good for the team too. He shows lot of character. It is not good for him or for the team if he keeps the wicket-keeping gloves away,” he said.
The Bangla player also had high praise for Indian pacer Umesh Yadav. “Umesh bowled really well in the morning today, moving the ball both ways and some of the deliveries were unplayable. I needed to be positive and use the soft hands quite often to counter him,” Shakib said.
Shakib also rued getting out after looking set for a century as he tried to clear the field. “I am not happy with my dismissal. But, you must have seen I have been playing my shots. It is bad luck that one shot did not connect,” he said.
