Shanto defends late declaration as rain change their plans
Bangladesh team after the last day of first Test, Cricfrenzy
Bangladesh settled for a draw in the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, despite being in a strong position for most of the match. Rain interruptions and a cautious approach on the final day meant the game ended without a result, bringing an end to Galle’s streak of 26 consecutive Tests with a definitive outcome.
On the final day, Bangladesh set Sri Lanka a target of 296 runs, with 37 overs left in the day after rain washed out nearly an entire session. Despite reducing the hosts to 4 for 74, Bangladesh called off the innings after 32 overs, accepting the draw.
Bangladesh hold the edge but Galle Test ends in draw
11 hrs ago
Questions were raised about Bangladesh’s approach to captain Najmul Hossain Shanto at the post-match press conference. Shanto attributed the cautious approach and timing of the declaration largely to the rain and the condition of the pitch.
“We didn’t feel the wicket was behaving the way we expected it to on Day 5. On Day 4, batting seemed quite comfortable. We wanted to put ourselves in a position where the risk of losing was minimal and the chances of winning were high. The rain in the middle of the day forced us to change our initial plans. But throughout the match, our intention was always to go for a win.” Shanto said.
Shanto added that the team may have had a better chance to push for victory if more overs were available.
Emotional farewell for Angelo Mathews after final Test in Galle
53 mins ago
“If we had around 60 to 70 overs, it could’ve created a good opportunity to bowl them out,” he said.
“We took some time to assess how the pitch was behaving. In the first 17–18 overs, we scored around 60 runs at a rate of about three per over. We planned to bat till lunch initially—had that happened, the picture might have been different.”
Despite the draw, Bangladesh’s performance showed promise. But questions about the team’s tactical mindset and approach in pressure situations—especially in conditions favoring results—continue to linger.
![Rishad Hossain [L] and Aaron Finch](https://cricfrenzy.com/public/storage/images/6-2025/cf_eI17TIll.jpg)
