DHAKA: Stand-in Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah said his team would go into the second Test against Zimbabwe in Dhaka on Sunday with ‘a positive frame of mind’ to rise above their recent failures.

Bangladesh are under pressure to win after Zimbabwe thrashed the home side by 151 runs in the first Test in Sylhet to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series this week.

“To be frank none of us were thinking of a loss. We are thinking positive. If you think negative you may get stuck in that place,” Mahmudullah told reporters on Saturday ahead of the game. “So we are trying to keep in a positive frame of mind and win the game by playing good cricket.”

Bangladesh were heavily criticised for their poor show in the first Test when they were dismissed for 143 and 169 runs in two innings.

It was the eighth consecutive Test innings where Bangladesh failed to cross the 200-run mark.

Mahmudullah urged his team-mates to show more fighting spirit.

“I think we are suffering because of a lack of discipline (in batting). You have to raise your concentration in Tests. Otherwise, the chance of performing well is limited,” he said. “In slow and spinning wickets where the ball comes late, you have to play it that way. There comes the importance of discipline. Patience is also important.”

The venue for the second Test, the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Dhaka’s Mirpur neighbourhood, is known for its slow pitch which has produced a result in 14 out of 17 Tests it hosted.

The last time there was a draw was when rain washed out play in the last four days of a Test between Bangladesh and South Africa in 2015.

“You all will agree with me, Mirpur wicket is always unpredictable. If you don’t get what you expect, you have to adjust. We are going in to this match with an empty head and will try to play according to pitch and condition,” the captain said.

Mahmudullah, who was leading the side for injured all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, also defended his players despite their below-par performance in the opening Test.

“I think our players play with their hearts. They always give 100 percent for the country. In this Test they will give 120 percent,” he said. Bangladesh won the preceding three-match One-day International series against Zimbabwe 3-0.

Teams (from):

BANGLADESH: Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Mominul Haque, Mohammad Mithun, Nazmul Hossain, Mahmudullah (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim, Ariful Haque, Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Nazmul Islam, Abu Jayed.

ZIMBABWE: Hamilton Masakadza (captain), Brian Chari, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Peter Moor, Regis Chakabva, Brandon Mavuta, Wellington Masakadza, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Craig Ervine.

Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) and Richard Kettleborough (England).

TV umpire: Rod Tucker (Australia).

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2018