|| CF Correspondent ||

Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah lambasted his batsmen for their prolonged lean-patch and warned that if they continue in this manner there is no point playing Test cricket as they are pushing them into an image crisis.

The outburst came after Zimbabwe defeated them by 151 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the ongoing two-match Test series, on Tuesday (November 6).

Bangladesh paid the price of their reckless batting display that forced them to taste a humiliating defeat to a team that have not won any Test in the last five years and have no Test-victory in Bangladesh since 2001.

“Explaining such batting performance is actually very difficult. I don’t think we showed the type of discipline that required to play Test cricket. The wicket was good although one or two balls only had turned a bit but I think that was playable. We have to look after about our disciplinary issues,” Mahmudullah told reporters at the post match press conference.

“We have to also increase the belief among us and of course we have to work more on our batting. In last few matches, our batters have failed immensely which made us concede embarrassing defeats. We have to think about these things and find a way out.

“Our plan was not successful at all. When the target was set yesterday, we discussed on the field that we will be positive. We'll play to win the match, because the wicket was good. No excuses should be given; we batted badly. We were not disciplined at all,” he said.

According to the acting Bangladesh Test captain, Bangladesh are not being able to take their ODI format’s discipline into Test cricket. However, he wants the team to mount a strong comeback as it has now become an issue of the team’s image.