‘We don’t play on T20 friendly wickets’

Former Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque remained tight-lipped on whether he worked on his game in Australia during a recent visit but divulged on the continued frustrations over poor wickets in T20s, sub-standard domestic four-day cricket and the need for players to find their own ways to improve in an exclusive interview with The Daily Star's Abdullah Al Mehdi. The excerpts are as follows.

The Daily Star (DS): The Bangladesh team is now in the UAE for the Asia Cup. So far, they have failed to post big scores in any of their matches with problems in strike rotation, and inability to hit big shots consistently in T20s becoming apparent. How do you view these issues?

Mominul Haque (MH): Power-hitting depends on the wicket. We don't play in T20-friendly wickets in our country. T20 wickets need to offer consistent pace, and bounce that can be trusted. You can then anticipate and hit the ball.

In Bangladesh, you have to judge the nature of the wicket before playing shots. The ball stops on you when you are trying to play a shot and that slows down the hand. That is why power-hitting traits go missing in our players. The issue of too many dot balls is also caused by that. When you try to attack, sometimes you end up with dot deliveries and also can't hit deliveries which are there to be hit. We mostly have 140-150 runs wickets here.

DS: What do you think is the remedy?

MH: From press conferences to elsewhere, the players are always talking about wickets. Without good wickets in T20s, power-hitting or scoring big runs is difficult. Many have raised this subject but nothing materialised. At the end of the day, you have to find your way out as a player. In high level tournaments, for instance the ongoing Asia Cup, if a player doesn't perform, they will be dropped. When they do not improve, they will feel bad about it. Since the board isn't taking initiatives, we have to find alternative routes.

For instance, I don't have access to any practice facilities with pitches that guarantee good bounce and where the ball comes on nicely. I have to use concrete or granite slabs to increase my range of shots.

Wickets in Bangladesh are all same, whether it's indoors or outdoors. There is no carry or bounce like in other countries. I don't know why indoor turfs are also same but the one in Mirpur is slow since it's made of rubber. The indoor is also very enclosed and sunlight barely reaches inside so not much air to facilitate swing. The wickets in Bogura and Rajshahi, from what I have seen previously, would be the best options for the Bangladesh team batters.

DS: You will play in the National Cricket League (NCL) T20 which is postponed for now due to inclement weather. How do you view the tournament?

MH: In our country there are not many white-ball tournaments. Many players do not get the opportunity they deserve in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and that's why a smaller number of players get exposure. NCL T20 creates that platform and gives such players an opportunity.

DS: Do you still have the drive to play white-ball cricket for Bangladesh?

MH: What you achieve something, your craving towards it diminishes. You always want the thing that you don't have. I haven't lost hope. I have played white-ball cricket for Bangladesh before and still haven't given up on it.

Players who play red-ball cricket do not get much opportunity to play in the white-ball versions. We worked on white-ball aspects in the Bangladesh Tigers' programme. I will try to apply them and make that mental shift to white-ball cricket. I will find out what I have to add or improve.

DS: Where do you see the Test side after doing well in the last World Test Championship (WTC) cycle?

MH: Last time, we improved and everyone now is thinking more about the game. We finished sixth last time and we want to make it to fourth or fifth. Everyone is talking about that.

DS: Which areas is the Test side more focused on right now?

MH: Batting has been the main area of focus since it's an area of concern. As a team, we realise we have to bat better and also understand what kind of runs we need to score in specific wickets. If on a flat wicket we score 270-300 in a day, sometimes that is not enough. We have to understand how much we need on Day 1 since many times, wickets are good on the first day and then it deteriorates. When you score 350 on a day, even if you bat badly on Day 2, you might still get 500. So, scoring at a higher rate can get us more results. We are trying to focus on such technical aspects moving forward.

DS: How do you see your role in the Test team as a top-order batter?

MH: If you can set the game up against the new ball, your team will be in a favourable position. I keep my plans simple in red-ball. In our cricket culture, we always think red-ball batting is defensive, which is not the case in other countries. Even coaches have emphasized this point since our childhood, which is why sometimes we slow down. I have been trying to break that mould since I feel that the opportunity is there. First 30 deliveries are challenging but I keep looking for scoring opportunities. When you score, you also deal with good deliveries better.

DS: Australian and English wickets present better opportunities in that regard?

MH: Yes, because due to good bounce, you can leave well, you can also play more shots. For instance, deliveries on eight-metre lengths, you can play over the slips or gully.

DS: You were fluent in your approach in the Sri Lanka tour but did not score big. What was your assessment?

MH: I told you about assessing how much runs should be scored in a wicket. When I went to bat, I felt the wicket was flat, and I have to score runs quickly as I felt the score should be 350 in a day. I feel if I am not positive, the team would fall behind. My mental setup was wrong as if I had played normally I would have scored more.

DS: Mushfiqur Rahim and you are the last veterans in the Test setup. Experience-wise how do you view the team?

MH: I feel that the media focusing too much on experience is not good. Those playing in the Test team have spent at least five-six years there. So, when someone plays for a year or two, they are experienced. If you continuously talk of experience, then those in the team would think they are not experienced even after playing for a while. They will forget that they have a role and are a crucial part in the team. If you talk about inexperience, they will think little of themselves. Players like [Najmul Hossain] Shanto, [Mehidy Hasan] Miraz have played 30-40 Tests. Shadman [Islam] has been playing for a while. I don't know when Mushfiqur bhai will hang up his boots but other players will come. I have seen players doing well in the New Zealand A series for instance.

DS: How much do you rate the four-day NCL tournament?

MH: Even during the previous board, I had said that there is a great difference between NCL's standards and international standards. Recently, 'A' team matches are happening a lot more than before. Since four-day NCL cricket is not very competitive, the A team matches will provide a learning platform, especially for those in the pipeline.

DS: As Shanto has quit Test captaincy, how do you see the leadership situation in the side right now?

MH: Of course, the board will have to find someone. If I talk about Shanto, he was a very good captain and leader. The proof of that is Bangladesh's standing in the last cycle. We won a series in Pakistan under him and it happened due to his leadership. He took responsibility and led the side well on the field.

DS: Do you think captaincy affects batting?

MH: It used to affect me but I don't know about Shanto. I couldn't contribute with the bat while I was captain.

DS: How do you see our current standards in Tests compared to top teams?

MH: You can't compare us with teams like Australia or India, the gap is too big. You saw the difference when we played in India (2024). Skill-wise, technique wise, we are still a lot behind.