DHAKA — Opening batsman Shadman Hossain was delighted to get a fifty, which he termed as a confidence booster for him as he tried to make a comeback in the national team again.
The opener, who so far played six Tests for Bangladesh sustained a wrist injury which left him out of the national team after he played against India in Kolkata Pink Ball Test. He even played the match with the injury and later was sent to Australia for treatment.
The wrist injury forced him to miss the Test matches against Pakistan and Zimbabwe and Saif Hassan who was given the chance in those matches, showed his credentials to leave Shadman in a stiff competition for a Test spot in the opening slot along with Tamim Iqbal.
And when the situation is not completely in his favour, his confidence was dashed after a failure in the first warm-up game between Ryan Cook XI and Ottis Gibson XI in which he scored just 13.
However an 83-run knock which helped his side Ryan Cook XI to a six-wicket win over Gibson XI relieved him to some extent.
“I had played the last match against India and then I didn’t play any game. I played this game after nine or 10 months. I didn’t do well in the first practice game, so I was on the back foot,” Shadman said after the match.
“I had a good practice in between so I thought I needed to bat the way I batted in the net. I thought if I could bat the way I batted in the net, I would be successful. So I got those 83 and it boosted my confidence.”
Shadman said his senior opening batsman Tamim Iqbal also gave him some useful tips as Ryan Cook XI was chasing a revised target of 200 in 43 overs against Ottis Gibson XI. Tamim also made 64 as the opening duo added 123 runs for their opening stand to set a platform of six wickets victory for their side.
“Tamim bhai told me to play my natural game. He said if we can play our natural game, we can win it. According to his advice, I played my natural game and we had a nice partnership which enabled us to win the game finally.”BSS
