Mominul Haque optimistic about Bangladesh's bowling ahead of Test series against Pakistan

Bangladesh batter, Mominul Haque, has emphasized the importance of staying focused on the present as his team gears up for the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan, starting August 21 in Rawalpindi. 

Haque, reflecting on the challenges ahead, urged his teammates not to dwell on past performances or future expectations.

"If you talk about momentum, does it mean that if I start the first match badly then I will do badly in the next six matches? Or if I start well in the first match, will I do well in all the matches?" Mominul said while speaking to a sports website. 

Mominul acknowledged that while many in Bangladesh believe in momentum, he does not. He pointed out that a team's ability to recover from poor starts is essential for improvement. 

"A lot [of them] believe in momentum but I don't believe in that. You may have started badly, but if you can't make a comeback then you will remain the same team, you can't upgrade. So, you have to get out of that," he said.

"If I do well one day, it doesn't matter but if I try to do so every day then I will have the chance to do well. I might fail again but then I will [also] do better again. So momentum is not that important to me but many in Bangladesh believe that. Actually, we need to get out of this or else we can never become a big team," he further added.

He also highlighted the need for adaptability in Test cricket, where conditions and situations can change rapidly. 

"In Test cricket from time to time the situation changes. If you can get a hold of that situation then you can come back. If they have the upper hand so you play patiently there and then you can come back. That's the fun and difference of the Test match - a new situation arises from time to time and also the conditions change and you have to adapt to that. 

Suppose you made 100 or 150 and suddenly three wickets went down for three runs, the situation changes. But then you go on to make 150-200 runs losing only those three wickets, in that case you again get back into the game and so you have to adjust to that and that is how it is played and that's how we need to play," he stated.

Discussing the upcoming series in Pakistan, Mominul noted the challenge of playing on flat wickets that can become difficult with an old ball due to reverse swing. He recalled their previous poor performance in Pakistan despite good batting conditions, emphasizing the need to be prepared for varying challenges.

"When we played there last time, we played really poorly though the wicket was good. The challenge is more with the old ball rather than with the new ball. Because the wicket is flat and, as the heat is high, different challenges arise with the old ball and it can reverse swing. So, the challenge is different there," he said.

"During that time I thought if you want you can stay at the wicket. But the challenge rises with the old ball. Normally it is a batting wicket in Pakistan and that's an advantage. But, if you [go in thinking] you will get a batting wicket then it becomes difficult because then you will fall short [once the ball gets old]. So, you have to be prepared for everything. Then it becomes easy for you," he further added.

Mominul also expressed confidence in Bangladesh’s current strengths, particularly in their bowling attack. 

"I think the best thing about us is that our bowling department is doing well, especially the pace bowling. The main pillar of a Test team is their bowling and our bowling is really good, by the grace of Allah. If we can bat well then we have a chance. And we have a chance to win a Test match provided we can create that," the left-hander said.

"Before what had happened [was that] we used to bat but the bowling wasn't good. Now, since we have good bowling, if we can do better in the batting then the chance to win a Test will be created," he concluded.