Mirpur: Pakistan’s veteran seamer Mohammad Abbas said the national team’s bowling attack was unfortunate on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.
After Pakistan skipper Shan Masood won the toss and elected to field first on the turf, the hosts dominated the visitors’ bowling attack at the end of the opening day as they romped to 301/4 thanks to captain Najmul Hossain Shando’s century.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Noman Ali and Abbas could take a wicket each on the opening day, forcing a turnaround on the following day.
Speaking to reporters after the end of the first day, right-arm fast bowler Abbas denied it was a “frustrating” day for the Pakistan bowlers, arguing they had bowled well at some stages before expressing his determination to end Bangladesh’s innings quickly with the new ball.
“I don’t think so. It was a frustrating day. We worked really hard and at times, we didn’t bowl well, but at other stages we bowled well and were a bit unlucky,” Abbas said.
“There were a lot of plays and missed moments throughout the day. I think it’s a great cricket pitch and we have a new ball in our hands. We’ll come back tomorrow and try to take wickets early and finish the job early,” he added.
Abbas also shared his assessment of the pitch, which was labeled in favor of the fast bowlers until the series opener started.
“There is grass on the pitch but underneath it is very dry. We have played enough cricket to understand that we have to work very hard,” Abbas noted.
“The weather is also very hot, but I still think it’s a great cricket ground.”
The 36-year-old left-arm spinner Noman Ali bowled 6 no-balls in the 20 overs he bowled during the opening day and, insisting that mistakes often happen when a bowler puts in extra effort, said the team’s bowling as a whole was satisfactory.
“It’s not like there’s any frustration among the bowlers or the spinners. Talking about me, I bowled two no-balls. That’s what happens when you put in extra effort. They were very close no-balls and definitely shouldn’t have happened,” Abbas said.
“It was a tough day. I bowled 16 overs from the tee because the team needed me and that’s why I bowled such a long spell.
“Overall the bowling was good, but there were a few no-balls. There were a lot of plays and misses and if luck had been on our side, the scene would have been different.”
Abbas threw his weight behind skipper Masood for choosing to field first, insisting any captain would have taken the same decision.
“I think any captain who wins the toss on this pitch would have opted to bowl first. The pitch has patches of green but is dry underneath,” he concluded.
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