KHULNA: Having dominated Pakistan in the last two days of the Khulna Test, Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim believes drawing the first Test was as good as winning it.

Bangladesh, in their second innings, made light of the 296-run deficit in the first innings as they posted a mammoth 555-6 before the match was called off after tea on the fifth and final day at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium.

Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal was the top-scorer with a Bangladesh record Test score of 206.

Mushfiqur cut a confident figure at the end of the match and reckoned such a performance will do wonders for Bangladesh cricket in the future after losing all previous Tests against Pakistan.

“We had plans to declare but for that we needed a safe score,” Mushfiqur said on Sunday. “We thought about giving them something in the mandatory 15 overs but we needed enough time to bowl them out too.

“We dominated this draw and it was nothing less than a win, against such a team and with 296 runs behind. Such a performance gives you belief as a group that we can overcome future goals.”

Despite showing immense character during the second innings, Mushfiqur accepted that bowling was still an area of concern and that if Bangladesh have to improve, their bowlers will need to show improvement in the second Test starting from Wednesday in Dhaka.

Pakistan, in their first innings, had piled up a mammoth 628, with Mohammad Hafeez scoring his maiden double century in Tests and Azhar Ali, captain Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, all chipping in with half-centuries.

“There is no end to improvement,” Mushfiqur said. “We should have scored more runs in the first innings because you won’t be making 550 in the second innings.

“We must give less runs, maintain a good economy rate, and we also need to take the chances. You need 20 wickets to win a Test match. We bowled better on the fourth day than we did on the third day.

“Taijul [Islam] bowled very well. We have to plan according to the pitch in the next game. Hopefully it will have some help for the bowlers to take 20 wickets.”

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2015

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