Bangladesh batting coach Jamie Siddons urged the media to back experienced Mushfiqur Rahim, who has been going through a lean patch with the bat in recent times.
Mushfiqur averages just 26.22 in his last five outings and the 35-year-old is also under hot water over his place in the T20 format as there were talks that the board might take a hard step over his place in the T20 side.
However, according to Siddons, Mushfiqur is only focusing on the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka and the Australian is confident that the wicket-keeper batter will bounce back in Chattogram, where the first Test begins from May 15.
“Every batter goes through patches where they don’t make runs. I’m really confident that he will make runs out here this week. I’ve seen some really good signs, the way he is hitting it in the last two days,” Siddons told the media at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.
“We worked on a couple of little things with him. I think he’s going to have a successful series. I think Mushy is only focused in the next two Tests. I don’t think he is worried about his career in any format.
“He has been quite successful in white-ball cricket. Good players can have moments when they don’t make runs, and then bounce back. That’s why they are great players,” Siddons added.
“Mushy is a very successful Test player. He keeps making runs. He might have a period like South Africa, and then he will bounce back again. So, you guys need to stop talking negative. Don’t put pressure on them just because they missed out on one series. Build them up all the time. Then they won’t have that pressure.”
Mushfiqur would be excited at the prospect of facing his favourite opponents, against whom he has scored his career’s first double ton and also boasts an average of 45.34 in Tests.
Siddons said that the Tigers will have to play better cricket against Sri Lanka and was confident to clinch the Test series at home.
“Sri Lanka’s batting and bowling are good, so we have to be on top of our game to win the Test matches. Our goal is definitely to win both Tests at home. We always want to win all of our home matches but reality is that it doesn’t always happen. We will play good cricket. We are confident against this side in Chittagong. Our challenge is to play five days of good hard cricket. See what happens in the end.”
Meanwhile, rain halted the Tigers’ training camp in Chattogram today and according to the weather forecast, there are high chances of rain during the first Test.
