Najmul 'not happy' despite Bangladesh's comeback win

Bangladesh won the second Test comfortably to level the series 1-1 © BCB
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto said that though his side had earned a massive win in Chattogram to level the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe, he is not happy with it as they could have done better. Najmul added that they need to convert their starts into big scores as they prepare for their next Test series, scheduled in Sri Lanka from June.

Zimbabwe brought down Bangladesh in the opening Test but the hosts made a brilliant comeback in the second Test to avoid an embarrassment. "I'm not really happy," Najmul told reporters following the game. "If you look at the whole series, we should have played better cricket. We didn't perform well in the first Test. Although we made a comeback, this is a series we should have won," he said.

"We played poor cricket in the first Test so it was important to bounce back. We won in Pakistan and West Indies earlier and that means we have that ability. We just need to play according to our potential.

"As a captain, I don't want this kind of scoreboard. If Shadman could score 200, I could hit a 100, or Mushfiqur Rahim scored 150, I would be happier, rather than everyone scoring 40s. Losing wicket after getting set is not a good sign, as this can't enhance our confidence. In Sri Lanka, whoever gets set, should score 150-200," he said.

"The Sri Lanka series is very significant. I would demand big scores from top order batsmen, rather than getting out on 40s. Usually, pitches in Sri Lanka are very sporting, so the pacers have their job to do. I want to see someone get to 150, 200. That's the level we need to reach if we want to win consistently overseas."

Najmul also dismissed calls for Mehidy Hasan to be promoted up the order as he also has a massive job in hand with the ball. During the last one year, Mehidy had gone from strength to strength as he is the leading run scorer as well as the highest wicket taker for Bangladesh in Tests in that timespan, making 598 runs and picking 41 wickets.

In the process he became the 26th Test cricketer to score 2000 Test runs along with 200 wickets and only the second Bangladeshi after Shakib Al Hasan to reach the milestone. On the third day of the second Test, Mehidy seemed to be riding on a different zone as he scored a brilliant century to help Bangladesh post 444 and later picked five wickets to bundle Zimbabwe out for 111, helping his side win the second Test by an innings and 106 runs.

"If you ask how far up - four or five? That's very challenging, especially in this format (Test)," said Najmul. "He's doing well at six-seven. He knows how important his bowling is, and he's working hard. We want him to keep contributing the way he is," he added.