DHAKA, May 11, 2026 (BSS)-Bangladesh batting coach Mohammad Ashraful insisted 
that his side still has a realistic chance of beating Pakistan in the opening 
Test despite losing significant time to rain interruptions.

Speaking after the Day 4 game, Ashraful maintained that Bangladesh would 
continue pursuing victory rather than settling for a draw.

Bangladesh ended the day 179 runs, after reaching 152-3 with skipper Najmul 
Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque playing serenely to steady the side 
following two early wickets.

But Ashraful rejected suggestions that Bangladesh were batting too slowly in 
a match increasingly affected by time constraints.

"We haven't played slow. I think we're playing the way Test cricket should be 
played," Ashraful said. "Rain is not in our control. If we can bat a little 
better tomorrow morning, I still think it is possible to win this match."

Ashraful said Bangladesh were focused on setting up the game rather than 
targeting a specific lead but indicated that a total lead around 260 could 
put the hosts in a strong position.

"With our bowling attack, especially our spin and pace attack, if we can bowl 
70-75 overs tomorrow, I think we will have a chance of winning," he believed.

The former captain also defended the team's opening pair despite failures in 
both innings, pointing to their performances in the previous series.

"There is no concern at all," Ashraful said. "In the last series our opening 
partnership was extraordinary. One of them (Mahmudul Hasan Joy) played a 
career-best innings of 171 and Sadman scored two eighties. I don't think two 
failures mean they should be changed."

Questions were also raised about whether aggressive opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim 
should be brought into the side for the next Test in Sylhet, but Ashraful 
said the current openers deserved more opportunities.

"Those who have performed well in the last few innings should definitely get 
more chances," he said, while adding that selection decisions ultimately 
rested with the selectors, captain and head coach.

Ashraful reserved special praise for Mominul, who once again delivered a 
crucial innings under pressure after Bangladesh slipped early.

"Mominul has played 76 Tests and scored 5,000 runs for Bangladesh. He knows 
how to handle these situations," he said. "He has the experience and he is 
contributing consistently."

Ashraful also brushed aside criticism over Mominul's scoring rate, insisting 
the left-hander was batting according to the demands of the wicket.

"This is Test cricket. On a challenging wicket, a strike-rate between 40 and 
50 is absolutely fine."

The batting coach acknowledged Bangladesh's lack of recent red-ball cricket 
may have affected their ability to accelerate on batting-friendly surfaces.

"We were out of Test cricket for almost five and half months. If our players 
had played 10 or 12 four-day matches during that period, they would be more 
used to scoring quickly on good wickets," he concluded.