|| CF Correspondent ||

Bangladesh skipper Shakib al Hasan said on Friday that he is disappointed that batsmen could not apply in the middle in the lone Test match against Afghanistan.

Bangladesh batsmen failed to execute their plans in the middle and as a result the host is trailing by 148 runs as they were reduced to 194-8 after dismissing their opponent for 342 runs.  

‘’Maybe we could not apply us properly. I won’t say it’s unplayable because the way Mosaddek (Hossain) and Taijul (Islam) batted, it’s possible to make runs here, they have proved it. We could make more runs if we could apply more,’’ Shakib told reporters at the official post-match press conference.

‘’I want this partnership to last at least for one session. If they can do that, the difference of run will decrease. If we can to manage 70-80 runs, it will be good advantage then. Definitely, it will be a very tough challenge but they way the batted, I can have that faith. And we will definitely have to bowl well. If we can do something magical, specially our bowlers, then we will have to depend on our batsmen.

Shakib added that he promoted Liton Kumar Das up in the order as he wanted right left combination against the Afghanistan off-spinner.

‘’Because he plays spin well and they have one off-spinner who bowled from one side with new ball for long time[ we promoted him],’’ said Shakib.

‘’And in top order if we have mixed batsmen (left and right handed), I think it was better for us. I think we were successful with that planning. Liton played Mohammad Nabi for a long time and hanled well because Nabi is more effective for the left handed batsmen than the right. That’s why we used him at third position. We wanted to mix it up. Though, it is difficult it Test cricket but we tried as long as we can,’’ he said.