Bangladesh captain Najmul Hussain Shanto has backed teammate Shakib Al Hasan for his poor display after the Chennai Test loss to India. Najmul Huseyn Shanto said he is looking forward to the preparation of a player who will contribute to the team more than his performance.
Shakib Al Hasan failed to perform in IND vs BAN 1st Test. The Bangladeshi all-rounder failed to take any wickets from his 8 wickets in the 1st innings. He remained scoreless in the 2nd innings as well.
With the bat, the left-handed batsman went for 32 and 25 in both the innings. Hasan also struggled against the Indian bowlers and did not look in good touch. He also struggled while fighting injury problems.
Najmul Hossain supports Shanto Shakib Al Hasan
At the post-match press conference, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto defended Shakib Al Hasan. Shanto said he focuses more on how a player contributes to the team rather than his performance.
“As a captain, I honestly look at how much effort a player puts into his game. Does he fight enough to come back, what is their intention towards the team and how much is he willing to give to the team?” Shanto told reporters.
“I look at his preparation more than whether he scores. What he thinks about the team. I am happy with the preparation of each member of this test squad and their willingness to give to the team,” he added.
This is a team game: Najmul Hossain Shanto
Shanto also noted that Shakib was playing despite being injured during the batting. He also said that he was not concerned about individual performance and that everyone should have contributed more to win.
“The player’s finger is taped. He was bleeding from the last time he was hit there. I don’t feel comfortable talking about the player’s individual performance.”
“It’s a team game and only the contribution of a whole team makes it possible to win the game. Overall, we all should have contributed more. Individual performances don’t bother me,” he added.
Recently, Shakib Al Hasan’s ability to play five-day games at his age has created a lot of doubts among the selectors. However, Hasan is one of the best all-rounders in international cricket and a legend for Bangladesh.
Also read: Watch: Rishabh Pant flies like Spider-Man as Rohit Sharma’s reaction catches the eye.
India crushed Bangladesh by 280 runs
Meanwhile, Bangladesh suffered a heavy defeat by 280 runs in the IND vs BAN 1st Test at MA Chidambaram Stadium. Batting first in the match, India scored 376-10 in the 1st innings.
Bangladesh were bowled out for just 149 in response to a deadly pace attack by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Bumrah took 4 wickets and Siraj took 2 wickets to demolish the visitors.
In the 2nd innings, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill hit centuries as the Indian team amassed a mammoth target of 515 for Bangladesh. They then bowled them out for 234, winning the game by a huge margin.
Ravichandran Ashwin won the man of the match award by scoring 6 wickets. IND vs BAN 2nd Test will be played from September 27 in Kanpur.
