‘Good batsman can score on any surface’

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s criticism of Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium wickets sparked mixed reactions in cricket fraternity as with some former cricketers calling it unjustified.

Before leaving for UAE to take part in the remainder of the Indian Premier League, Shakib expressed his disgust at Mirpur pitches, where Bangladesh played 10 Twenty20 Internationals at a stretch against Australia and New Zealand and won seven.

Though Bangladesh won both the series, most of the matches were low scoring affairs, which were not ideal for T20, a format invented to deliver run-fest with a flurry of fours and sixes.

“If a batsman plays 10-15 matches on such a surface his career will be over,” Shakib told the media while speaking at a programme on Saturday evening.

Mohammad Ashraful, who was the captain of Bangladesh Cricket team in the first edition of T20 World Cup, told The Business Post did not completely agree.

“I don’t see someone’s career being over. Those who were playing in those series, almost all of them are going to the World Cup, nobody faced axing”, said the right-handed batsman.

Ashraful was apparently referring to Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar who performed poorly in the recent matches yet made it to the World Cup squad.

Somuya played to six of 10 matches in back-to-back series against Australia and New Zealand scored only 32 runs while Liton managed to score only 65 runs from the five-matches against a second-string New Zealand side.

Ashraful feels that better batsmen could always score on such difficult surfaces.

“If a batsman has the quality, he can score on any surface. Mahmudullah scored some runs, Afif (Hossain) got runs. If a batsman can score on tough conditions, it will be much easier for him to score freely on batting-friendly wickets,” he said.

While criticising pitches, Shakib expressed his optimism about Bangladesh’s chances in the World Cup due to their consistent win.

Former cricketer Aftab Ahmed, however, played down the suggestion.

“From my experience of being in Abu-Dhabi for T-10, what I can guess is that in Oman and in the UAE the wickets will be flatter. Some 180-200 runs will be scored in one innings and that too will be chased down, that will be the type of the wickets. We should give our batsmen some scope to free their arms” he told The Business Post

“Batsmen would feel confident if they could have some good innings. They have to score big or chase big targets, chasing small totals here will not help them in the World Cup” said Aftab.

He also feels that even the bowlers will also struggle with a false confidence.

“The cutters which worked in Mirpur will not work in those wickets. When the bowlers will try to repeat what made them successful at home but will not be getting the same result, they will be more frustrated”, said Aftab.