MATARA, Tuesday, 05 March 2013

TEAM UPDATE: Mohammad Ashraful and Muminul Haque after the drawn three-day match against Sri Lanka Emerging Team-

MOHAMMAD ASHRAFUL

On starting his tour with a hundred

It was good. The wicket obviously helped. I knew it had runs if you applied yourself. I wanted to build the innings and managed to do that.

The 178-run partnership with Muminul Haque

He (Muminul) has been in the runs in all versions of the game over the last couple of years and it was good to see him play that innings of 99. It was important for us to spend time in the middle and get those runs ahead of the first Test.

Whether his innings was an example of a new found maturity

Well it ought to be. I feel I have done very little over the last 10-12 years for my team and the kind of age I am in now it is about time.

I want to bat in the top order with a new kind of approach. I am working on that. I take inspiration from the transformation of Tillekaratne Dilshan. Since 2009 he has re-invented himself at international level batting in the top order. I want to bat like him with a balance between aggression and composure.

The Sri Lanka effect

I have happy memories here and it is true that I want to come here. I just have more confidence when playing against Sri Lanka.

MUMINUL HAQUE

On his innings

This was a preparation match so from that aspect it was good to get some runs but I wouldn't look too much into it. The real challenge is the Test series.

Batting with Ashraful

This was the first time we had batted together at any level. We just spoke the normal stuff while batting and concentrated on staying in the middle.


NOTE: The Bangladesh team will have an optional training session at the Galle International Cricket Stadium from 10:30am tomorrow (Wednesday).