Mushfiqur Rahim has appealed for more Tests after Bangladesh’s improved series against Sri Lanka.
Although Bangladesh lost the two match Test series against Sri Lanka 1-0, there have been many positives taken from the fixtures by the tourists.
Firstly, in the opening Test it was the first time in their history that Bangladesh had drawn with Sri Lanka. Also, the 638 they made was their highest run score ever and that included their first double-centurion – captain Mushfiqur Rahim.
Now the 24-year-old is calling on all other Test nations to give Bangladesh a chance and start playing more five day games against them.
“Those who are in authority, I would ask them to give us more Tests,” Mushfiqur said on ESPNcricinfo.
“We can show that we can play good, consistent Test cricket.”
Whilst the Bangladesh skipper is looking to play eight to ten Test matches a year, they are currently only scheduled to play four in 2013. In fact this is an improvement on last year when they only played two five-day games.
Bangladesh have also struggled to get teams to commit to longer than a two match Test series with them, since their introduction as a Test side in 2000.
Since that year the newest ICC ranked team have played just two series’ that have lasted for three Test matches, with the last one coming nearly six years ago again against Sri Lanka.
The main criticism of increasing Bangladesh’s Test schedule is their ability to compete, although it could be argued that more experience from more matches would improve the team.
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