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Mominul slips quietly into the hot seat


Bangladeshpost
Published : 12 Nov 2019 06:53 PM | Updated : 30 Aug 2020 04:27 AM

It was all rather sombre at the BCB's packed reception area on the evening of October 29. Shakib Al Hasan read out his statement. And minutes after he was done, BCB cricket operations chairman Akram Khan announced that Bangla­desh would have a new Test captain - such was the atmosphere that there was no space for appreciation or celebration when Mominul Haque's name was read out, reports ESPNCricinfo.

"It was unexpected," Mominul, now Bangladesh's 11th Test captain, told ESPNcricinfo. "I never thought about it. I never even dreamt that I'd one day become Bangladesh's captain. But it was a great feeling after the announcement."

From a cricketing point of view, it is a fair decision, and well timed. Mominul is an established Test cricketer. Since making his Test debut in 2013, he has scored eight centuries in the format - only behind Tamim Iqbal's tally for Bangladesh - and he's the only batsman from his country to have a 40-plus average after scoring 2500 runs.

Mominul's plan now is to lead aggressively in India, with the first Test in Indore first and the second, under lights, in Kolkata.

"I like to play aggressively. I want to be an aggressive captain, which I feel brings more success. I think, according to the situation, I will be defensive within my aggressive mindset," he said. "It is not an extra pressure as a captain. It is a good feeling, an opportunity. I haven't brought anything into my thinking. I like to be optimistic.

"I am just thinking of representing the country, and doing something good for the team." Having played under five captains in his international career so far, he hopes to take the best from each of Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib, Tamim, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah.

"We have had different types of captains, and I will try to take different things from each of them," he said. "I have seen how each of them react to different situations, and I have certainly learned from it. How they handled those situations, whether they were aggressive or defensive. I can take a lot of good things from them."

But there's no doubt the task ahead of Mominul is extremely difficult.