Interim Bangladeshi head coach Nick Pothas stated that the presence of former captain Shakib Al Hasan in the squad instills tranquility. He also mentioned that current captain Najmul Hossain Shanto will gain a lot from the previous captain’s input.
Rain caused the practice session to start an hour later than planned. Shakib, who will return for the second Test after missing Bangladesh’s 322 run defeat to Sri Lanka in the opening match in Sylhet, kept himself occupied. Along with Najmul, he took some time to assess the pitch. Later, he was observed having a conversation with Pothas, the interim head coach in place of Chandika Hathurusingha, and Litton Das, who is currently not playing well.
Shakib has been the center of attention ever since he returned to the Test squad after a year away. He concentrated on finishing fielding drills and exercises, emphasizing the fitness component, rather than batting or bowling in the nets.
“Any squad that has Shakib on it is really lucky, in my opinion. We are glad to see him again. He is a pleasure to have at the changing area every time. His enthusiasm is contagious. He is a giver once Shakib returns, and the guys can gain a lot from his expertise. So, before the second Test in Chattogram, Pothas informed media, “We really enjoy having him around the group.”
“It appears that Shakib has shed some pounds. He has been training, then. He’s had a successful BPL. His Dhaka Premier League debut has gone well. That’s the only location we want Shakib, and he’s happy there. We desire his happiness. So, he looks terrific,” said Pothas, who added that Shakib’s absence from red-ball cricket for a long does not concern him.
“He is what he calls a professional. He is aware of his actions and inactions. He’ll adjust to the circumstances. He answered, “That’s why he’s world class.” “There is serenity in the group when Shakib joins. Not to mention that it gives Shanto another resource for counsel. An exceptionally skilled individual in the profession, he simply exudes calmness.”
Pothas supported the team and urged for patience, saying that everyone should give the youthful group some time to settle in despite the crushing defeat Bangladesh suffered in the opening game. Our gang is quite young and inexperienced. Before this, there existed an extremely exclusive group. We now need to construct. All we want is for people to just have patience.
“These are highly talented young players, but they will need time to grow as they play against a more seasoned team and are still learning new skills. When we introduce our children to new situations, we wouldn’t anticipate anything different from them. We don’t expect our children to become specialists overnight. They attend school for that reason. Thus, they’re an amazing group, and instead of judging them now, let’s do so in two years,” he remarked.
Additionally, Pothas defended Litton, saying that he is in a good place and will give birth shortly. “We’ve had discussions. Litton’s position is favorable. The issue we usually face is that external pressure is placed on Litton. I believe Litton will show you his finest self if we simply let him be Litton.
“If we keep putting too much emphasis on him in the media and on social media, we forget that these men are still people at their core, even though they are really skilled cricket players and frequent television hosts. Pothas assured them that he would deliver results if they were to be treated like human beings and given the freedom to pursue his own interests.
