We missed Shakib: Mominul

Bangladesh Test captain Mominul Haque admitted that ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was a big miss on the fifth day of the first Test in Chattogram.

Kyle Mayers scored a double century against some pretty tepid bowling to help the Windies chase down at mammoth 395 fourth-innings target with three wickets to spare against Bangladesh.

Shakib injured his left thigh while fielding off his own bowling on day two and did not take any further part in the match since, even though there was talk of him playing again if absolutely needed by a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official.

"Yes, you could say we missed him. We could have planned our bowling better if Shakib Bhai was there. He can gel the senior batsmen and the senior bowlers together. We missed his absence, especially in bowling," Mominul told the media in the post-match press conference.

Mominul however also believed that the spinners - Taijul Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Nayeem Hasan - bowled well in Shakib's absence although it could have been better. 

"This was the first game where I was captain and I was playing with Shakib Bhai and the spinners did pretty well even though Shakib Bhai was out injured. But if the spinners could have maintained their lines and lengths a bit better, they had the capacity to win the Test. We were unlucky that the spinners couldn't bowl in the right areas," Mominul added.

Mominul couldn't find much reasoning behind why the spinners didn't manage to maintain their lines and lengths apart from playing "Test cricket after a long time".

He also feels the Chattogram wicket had plenty in it to assist the bowlers but his "bowlers couldn't take advantage of the pitch". 

Mominul however reserved special praise for Mayers: "He batted excellently. To score a double century chasing close to 400 is something truly great!"

The Test captain is now looking for a quick turnaround in the Dhaka Test which begins on February 11.