Bangladesh cricket team director Khaled Mahmud condemned veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim’s choice of shot selection that cost his wicket in Bangladesh’s first innings on day three of the second Test against hosts South Africa in Port Elizabeth Sunday.
Tourists Bangladesh replying to Proteas' 453 in the first innings could post only 217 after Mushfiq's dismissal triggered a free fall in the innings.
Mushfiq and Yasir Ali added 70 runs for the sixth wicket having started the day with 139 runs on the board for five wickets.
Both Yasir and Mushfiq dealt in boundaries early into the play.
The partnership was broken when Yasir fell on 46 caught and bowled by Keshav Maharaj.
Mushfiq remained in the middle for around 10 more overs, and reached his 25th Test half-century.
But despite being the last established batter for the team Mushfiq chose to play a reverse sweep only to get bowled out to Simon Harmer and start the Bangladesh collapse.
Mahmud while speaking to the media following the day’s play said such approach by Mushfiq was unexpected.
“That shot from Mushfiq was not expected at all. We were only four minutes away from the break and knew that another 43 runs would avoid the follow-on. Mushfiq is an experienced batter, we do not expect such shot from him considering the situation of the game. Mushfiq can explain better on this but it is unfortunate,” said Mahmud.
“He is an established batter and it was important for us to avoid follow-on at that point of time. Though South Africa did not impose the follow-on still it is about prestige to avoid follow-on. He knows his responsibility. You can accept such shots in ODI and T20 because those are game of runs. But why in Test? Particularly after you have scored a hard earned 50 and was batting well,” said the former Bangladesh captain now a Bangladesh Cricket Board director.
Bangladesh chasing a daunting target of 413 runs lost three wickets with just 27 runs on the board before the umpires called it a day.
Bangladesh to win the game will have to change the course of history at Saint George's Park.
The highest successful chase in the venue till date belongs to Australia against South Africa in 1997.
