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MIRPUR: Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas said the bowlers were ‘unlucky’ after a difficult opening day against Bangladesh in the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday.
Asked to bat first, Bangladesh closed out day one in a strong position at 301-4, largely due to a 170-run partnership between skipper Najmul Hosain Shanto and Mominul Haque. Shanto scored 101 while Haque was dismissed on 91.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, and Noman Ali picked up one wicket each, as the visitors endured a frustrating day.
Speaking to the media after day one of the first Test, Abbas said they had worked hard and rejected the suggestion that it was a frustrating day.
“I don’t think so, it was a frustrating day,” he replied to reporters.
“We worked really hard and, at some points, we didn’t bowl well, but at other stages we bowled really well and were a little unlucky as well,” he added.
The pacer mentioned the day’s play, in which Pakistan bowlers created some chances, and acknowledged good batting from the opposition.
“There were plenty of play-and-miss moments throughout the day. I think it was a very good cricketing pitch and we have the new ball in our hands. We will come back tomorrow, take early wickets, and try to finish the job as soon as possible,” he explained.
“There is grass on the pitch, but underneath it is very dry. We have played enough cricket to understand that we need to work really hard,” Abbas observed.
Regarding bowling discipline, he considered no-balls crucial, stressing that luck played a vital role.
“The weather is also very hot, but I still think it is a very good cricketing pitch.”
“It is not like there was frustration among the bowlers or spinners. If I talk about myself, I bowled two no-balls. That can happen when you are putting in extra effort. They were very close no-balls and, of course, they should not have happened,” Abbas stated.
The 36-year-old also backed skipper Shan Masood’s decision to bowl first, saying that any captain would have chosen to bowl on that pitch.
“The bowling was good overall, but there were a few no-balls. There were a lot of play-and-miss moments and, if luck had been on our side, the scenario could have been different.”
“I think any captain winning the toss on this pitch would have chosen to bowl first. The pitch is dry underneath, although there are green patches on it,” the seamer concluded.
READ: Najmul Hossain Shanto creates history during Pakistan Test
