Shadman Backs Bangladesh Batters After Day 1 Struggles Against Sri Lanka

Shadman Islam, the opening batsman for Bangladesh, has voiced his support for the team's batting lineup following a lackluster performance on the opening day of the second Test match against Sri Lanka.

Shadman top-scored for Bangladesh with 46 on a rain-hit opening day © AFP

Despite several batsmen achieving promising starts, none were able to convert them into substantial scores. This was largely attributed to questionable shot selections, leading to Bangladesh concluding the rain-affected day in a precarious position.

Shadman himself led the scoring with 46 runs. Other notable contributions came from Mominul Haque (21), Mushfiqur Rahim (35), Litton Kumar Das (34), and Mehidy Hasan (31). After weathering the initial challenges, these batsmen appeared poised to capitalize on their opportunities, but ultimately faltered.

"You cannot score runs without playing shots," Shadman stated in a post-day press conference. "We played shots in Galle too where those ended in boundaries. But unfortunately, maybe it was not our day today."

When asked about the team's intent to score at a faster rate, Shadman clarified, "Nothing like that (trying to score at a good pace). Maybe some shots were wrong. It's part of cricket."

He further commented on the pitch conditions, saying, "I think the wicket was a little bit slow. There was no movement in the morning, but we threw our wickets away, but hopefully, we won't do that in the second innings."

Shadman also pointed out that the interruptions due to rain played a significant role in the team's underwhelming performance, as batsmen were forced to readjust after breaks, disrupting their momentum.

"The batters need to get set again after a break. Maybe it played a role," he explained. "No one wants to get out intentionally. Maybe it was a bad day for us."

The opening batsman defended the captain's decision to bat first and suggested that a total of around 270 to 280 runs would be competitive on the slow surface at the SSC.

"No, I haven't seen anything like that from which we can say that the decision was wrong [opting to bat first]. The wicket was a bit slow. I hope 270-280 is a good score. If we can bowl well, we will make a comeback Insha'Allah," he asserted.

Shadman concluded by emphasizing the importance of disciplined bowling. "If we can bowl in good areas, then we can make a comeback as there's help on the wicket," he added.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's bowling coach, Thilina Kandamby, expressed his surprise at the pitch's behavior at the SSC.

Kandamby remarked that the surface behaved unlike anything he had experienced in his 15-year career. "It's quite an unusual wicket at the SSC. Normally, you get true bounce here, but today it was a bit two-paced. The pace and bounce weren't consistent, and the ball came off the surface slower than we expected," Kandamby explained.

He praised the efforts of the fast bowlers, saying, "The fast bowlers really showed character. They picked up key wickets and kept us in the game."

Kandamby further noted the team's focus on fitness and workload management for the bowlers. "They (fast bowlers) focused heavily on fitness and bowling workloads, and the coaches have monitored them closely. That work is showing now," he said, adding that he is expecting out of form to come back good sooner than later.

Addressing concerns about Prabath Jayasuriya's form, Kandamby stated, "Prabath is slightly out of form, but we believe in his experience. I'm confident he'll bounce back."