As Bangladesh prepares for their upcoming two-Test series in Pakistan, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto discussed Rishad Hossain‘s prospects in red-ball cricket. Despite Rishad’s impressive performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, where he was the third-highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps, Shanto believes he is not yet ready for Test cricket.
Rishad has been a crucial part of the team, especially in white-ball formats. His absence in the Test series will be noticeable, given his consistent performance. Shanto’s assessment, however, reflects his view that Rishad’s skills need further refinement for the longer format.
Addressing the media, Najmul Hossain Shanto said, “I think it would be better to ask this to the selectors, but from my experience, I don’t think he [Rishad] is fully ready for red-ball cricket at the moment.” He also praised the contributions of Mushtaq Ahmed, their bowling coach, and local coaches in developing Rishad’s techniques. Shanto emphasized the important role played by local coaches like Sohail Islam, who have worked closely with Rishad.
“Definitely, he [Mushtaq] did a fine job with us… But I don’t want to give credit only to Mushtaq Ahmed. The local coaches had been looking after Rishad prior to that. Mushtaq Ahmed shared his experiences and some tactical aspects with Rishad, which really helped him,” Shanto added.
Najmul Hossain Shanto trusts the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)‘s judgment in appointing coaches and believes they have the team’s best interests at heart. The squad for the upcoming series is expected to be announced soon.
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