'We dominated this Test'

There was disappointment all round the Bangladesh camp after the fourth day of the Test was called off due to incessant rainfall. However, the immense break provided the chance for most of the players of the playing eleven to hit the gym and enjoy some extra training sessions.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, for instance, was one of the first players to pad up and get to the indoor facilities to attend his batting sessions. The wicketkeeper-batsman hasn't been at his best and will hope he can regain his form ahead of the second Test.

Although they sweated it out indoors, most of the players would have been much happier had they received the opportunity to use that energy to bowl the visitors out at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday.

"As a team we played really good cricket. Overall, had there been five days of cricket, we would have had a positive result because we dominated this Test. I guess we were unlucky that it didn't happen," opener Imrul Kayes said yesterday.

"I think this is a positive side for Bangladesh cricket. The fact that we played consistently for a long time is a good sign for us and a big achievement on our part," he added.

Former national cricketer and current team manager Khaled Mahmud echoed Imrul's thoughts.

"It does feel bad. We had an opportunity after taking the lead. Actually not just us, it was open for both teams. It could have been an exciting finish. But again, no one can control the rain," said Mahmud.

Imrul believes that if play does take place today, it might be a little harder for the visiting batsmen out in the middle considering that the covers were on throughout the day yesterday.

"The pitch was completely covered. Normally the wicket may become a bit damp if the cover is not lifted and then the wicket doesn't behave normally. I think batting will be a little difficult and our spinners will get help.

"I think if Shakib [Al Hasan] and Taijul [Islam] can bowl well, then we will be able to bowl them out quickly," said Imrul.

Furthermore, Mahmud believed that the good display on the field from the Tigers in the first three days would help them put up a confident display against the Proteas in Dhaka in the second and final Test.

"We will definitely return to Dhaka with plenty of confidence. I don't know what will happen tomorrow, whether we will get a result or not. Let us see what happens if play resumes.

"Maybe we could have done much better than this in this Test. Our batting could have been slightly better, but then again, our confidence levels have been boosted. And we know the Dhaka wicket is much better than the one here," said Mahmud.

The former national cricketer also said that Bangladesh's positive performance in this Test was a sign that, like in the ODIs, the team is readily improving in this format as well.

"I would say that this performance is a signal that we are gradually rising in this format as well. I think we need to play more Tests. It doesn't matter whether we win or lose. We need the experience and that's why the Dhaka Test is very important," said Mahmud.