Sylhet: Pakistan Test bowling coach Umar Gul is confident that the second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh is a draw.
Addressing a media conference in Sylhet, Gull said the match is still open with two full days remaining, with the possibility of rain and the atmosphere of the match being determined by both sides.
“We still have two days of play and there is a chance of rain, so there is a lot of time left. The result is still open and it is unlikely to be a draw,” Gull said.
“If we bat consistently on both days, we have a real chance of chasing down the target. Both teams still have a chance to win and anything is possible in cricket,” he added.
Chasing a tough target of 437 runs set by Bangladesh, Gul acknowledged the scale of the challenge, stressing the importance of building long partnerships and maintaining discipline in the final innings.
“The target of 437 requires two to three strong partnerships. We are mentally ready to chase it and will do our best to achieve the target,” Gul said.
He further reflected on the nature of the pitch and the varying conditions throughout the match, noting that batting became significantly easier after the initial help for the bowlers.
“The pitch helped the bowlers with humidity and swing on day one, but became much better for batting on days two and three. Bangladesh’s batsmen played very well, while our bowlers were unlucky and didn’t use the review system effectively,” he continued.
The former fast bowler highlighted the wider challenges faced by fast bowlers in the longest format, pointing to limited Test exposure, demanding conditions and the body count of playing in extreme weather conditions.
“In red-ball cricket our bowlers lose rhythm with the limited Tests. Unlike the PSL, the pace slows down in the longer formats, and playing Tests less than every six months makes it difficult to maintain consistency. The heat and humidity make the conditions challenging,” he said.
Gul concluded by reiterating the importance of maintaining intensity in Test cricket, regardless of format or conditions.
“Irrespective of form, speed is always important in cricket and maintaining intensity is key at this level,” he concluded.
Earlier, Bangladesh set a target of 437 for Pakistan, with Mushfiqur Rahim hitting 137 off 233 balls with 12 fours and a six.
Liton Das scored 69 runs off 92 balls and Mahmudul Hasan Joy scored 52 runs off 64 balls.
In reply, Pakistan made a steady start to their final innings, leveling at 0-0 with two overs to play at the end of day three, and openers Abdullah Fazal and Azaan Awais will resume their chase at the crease on Tuesday.