A number of Bangladesh cricketers including Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim visited the home of late national all-rounder Manjarul Islam Rana yesterday.
Mushfiq and the accompanying cricketers met Rana’s mother, Jamila Khatun, and had a look at all the cricket awards and different memoirs of the late national cricketer.
Jamila broke into tears upon the visit of the national cricketers. “I could not say anything. I just cried. Mushfiq requested me to see them like my own sons. He (Mushfiq) consoled me,” said Jamila.
Following their visit to Rana’s home, the national cricket team flew to Dhaka in the afternoon before leaving for Chittagong in the evening.
The Tigers are now eyeing a series sweep against Zimbabwe. If the hosts are to seal the whitewash, this will only be their second series sweep. The only time Bangladesh registered a whitewash was against the West Indies in the Caribbean in 2009 when the Tigers swept the two-Test series 2-0.
Once again, the home side will be banking on their three spinners led by Shakib al Hasan. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and young leg-spinner Jubair Hossain are also expected to play their part in the third and final Test starting this Wednesday in Chittagong.
The batting department, meanwhile, will be spearheaded by Mushfiq, Shakib, Mahmudullah and opener Tamim Iqbal, who struck his fifth Test century and first after four years in the just concluded second match in Khulna.
Tamim’s opening partner in the first two Tests, Shamsur Rahman, however, failed to impress in the recent past and subsequently paid the price as he has been replaced in the squad by left-handed Imrul Kayes. Another opener Anamul Haque is also in the running for the opening slot alongside Tamim.
The third and final Test will be followed by five one-day internationals.
