Mushfiqur Rahim eyes Test series after draw with Pakistan Shaheens

The first four-day match between Pakistan Shaheens and Bangladesh 'A' ended in a draw at the Islamabad Club Ground, with both sides displaying resilient performances despite the challenging conditions. 

Bangladesh 'A' captain Mushfiqur Rahim shared his thoughts on the match, highlighting the efforts of both teams and the impact of weather disruptions.

Mushfiqur acknowledged the challenges faced by his team, stating, "It has been a good match overall, although it didn’t go in our favor. The weather also played a part in disrupting our momentum."

The match saw interruptions due to rain, which affected both teams' preparation and gameplay.

Praising the Pakistan Shaheens, Mushfiqur said, "Pakistan Shaheens played very well, especially Umar Amin's batting was excellent." 

Amin's marathon innings of 177 runs was a key factor in Pakistan Shaheens' strong position in the match. Mushfiqur also commended the Shaheens' bowlers, particularly Naseem Shah and Mohammad Ali, for their impressive performances.

Reflecting on his team's performance, Mushfiqur noted, "We have young players in our team who definitely had the opportunity to learn." 

He emphasized that the experience gained from this match would benefit his players in the upcoming Test series. 

"We have two Test matches ahead, so the players in this squad will gain a lot," he added.

Mushfiqur, visiting Islamabad for the first time, expressed his admiration for the city, saying, "Islamabad is beautiful, and the facilities here are good."

"Due to rain, we couldn’t practice much in the first two days. We only had one net session," Mushfiqur explained.

The Bangladesh 'A' captain also revealed that he was unable to bat in the second innings due to a finger injury but reassured fans of his participation in the upcoming Test match. 

"I couldn't bat in the second innings because of my finger injury, but I will play the first Test," he concluded.