Mirpur: Pakistan all-rounder Salman Ali Agha has insisted that the tour team will surely win the first Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
At the end of the final day, the home side were 152/3 in the second innings and Pakistan led by 179 runs, with captain Najmul Hossain Santo and veteran batsman Mushfiqur Rahim unbeaten on 58 and 16 respectively.
Speaking to reporters after the fourth day of the series opener, which was heavily affected by rain and poor light, Pakistan’s Agha said the visitors would go for the chase if Bangladesh were “courageous” to set a target of 260 in 70 overs.
The 32-year-old, however, insisted he did not expect the home team to face the challenge on the final day.
“Right now, you can’t say who has the upper hand in this game. I think tomorrow is going to be an exciting day of Test cricket. We want to get them out as quickly as we can; that’s going to be our strategy,” Agha said.
“Of course, if they brave 70 overs and give us a target of 260 we will win. We will definitely go for the chase but I don’t think they will do that.
“If they give us two sessions and 250 runs, we will definitely go for the chase first and then see how the pitch plays out. But right now, we want to win this game.”
Agha clarified his views, insisting that he was not questioning Bangladesh’s mettle and instead targeting Pakistan after knocking them out of contention would be in the home side’s interest, but privately reiterated that they had to take the risk to force a decision.
“I am not saying that they are not brave enough or anything like that. For them, I am saying that the best thing is to knock us out of the game first and then set us a target,” Agha clarified.
“But if they give us 70 overs and a target of 260 or 270, we’ll be in the game and personally I want them to do that.
“If we’re in that position, we’ll try to make sure we take the opposition out of the game first and then we’ll set the goal we want to give them. That’s what I’m saying.”
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