‘It’s not in our control’ – Najmul on problems off the pitch

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain called for smooth sailing off the field at least in the future as they prepare to take on Afghanistan in the three-match ODI series scheduled to start in Sharjah from November 6 .

Cricbuzz earlier reported that bowler Nahid Rana and left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed could take part in the opening session due to visa complications, but the duo are yet to arrive in the UAE and are all but ruled out of the opening ODI, although Najmul remains hopeful. .

“I think Nasum and Rana will come, that’s what I still believe and the cricket board will take care of the problem. As there is still time for the match to start, I hope,” Najmul told reporters in Sharjah on Tuesday. .

“It would have been better if they had been able to arrive earlier, but that is not in our control,” he said. “They have more right-handed batsmen and even though we don’t have a left-arm spinner, Rishad is there and the way he bowls in the T20 format, I think he will be a very good option for us. Had everything been smooth, it would have been good for the team, but as I said it is not in our control.

As a player, instead of focusing on these, we need to ensure how we can make our abilities and our resources work, as that is more important. If the external issues are smooth in the future series, then it would be good for our team,” he added.

Najmul pointed out that they are not worried about facing Fazalhaq Farooqi, although the left-arm pacer has been a thorn in their side in recent times, picking 15 wickets in eight matches he has played so far with an economy rate of 4, 84. He also averages 19.33 against them – his best against an opposition he played at least three times.

“Yes of course. He (Farooqi) is an excellent bowler but I feel we have played a lot of games against this team. So we have that idea and the top order batsmen will have to take responsibility for how they have to handle new ball,” Najmul said.

“The preparation is very good and happy with how we trained. Everyone prepared very well. Yes, some of the senior players are not here, but we cannot think about those who are not here. We can only think about what we have now and I believe we have the players who are capable of performing here, so I believe all 15 players can perform here.

“In any format, the top-order start is very important. But I don’t want the top-order to take too much pressure. I want them to enjoy the game and play according to their ability for the team. I believe we will manage good in this format, we have done well in the past and of course Afghanistan are good in these conditions but if we can play to our strengths we can do very well against them.

“We have three games here and three in the West Indies. I wouldn’t call it preparation as all six games are important and we will play to win all six. If we can take confidence from here, it will be easier for us in the Champions Trophy Whichever combination we want to play in, we would get those ideas from here,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi insisted his side will not take Bangladesh for granted despite their own good form in recent times. Shahidi also insisted that opportunities will be given to newcomers if the situation arises. Afghanistan included Sediqullah Atal and Billal Sami in their squad on the back of their performances in the Emerging Asia Cup recently.

“I think since I was captain we brought a lot of young players and apart from Nabi and Gulu (Gulbadin) they are all young and it doesn’t mean who debuts is young and who doesn’t play are young,” Hashmatullah said. . “I have a lot of youngsters and some of them are new in the team and people like Sediqullah Atal, he is picked for the first time in ODIs and Billal Sami. We will see match by match and if we need any of ​​these guys, so we will give them a chance.

“We keep it simple with what we’ve been doing for the last few years, so we know our strengths and each player knows his plans and his own role in the team and what he has to do for the team. We do that and we give our hundred percent for the team, we are well prepared for this series and we are here for the last 10 days and we also know the conditions here in Sharjah and played a lot of cricket here and hopefully we will get a good series.