Mushfiqur Rahim wants competitive Tests for his teammates

After getting close to a historic win over England at Chittagong, the Bangladesh skipper feels the only way for them to get better in the longer format of the game is to play enough Tests

Stuart Broad (left) consoles Bangladesh batsman Sabbir Rahman yesterday. Pic/AP, PTI

Chittagong: Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim pleaded yesterday for Bangladesh to be given more Test matches after the cricketing minnows fell agonisingly short of an historic victory over England.

While England's main challenge is to manage their players' workload, Bangladesh struggle to arrange series against top-flight opponents and the just-concluded match in Chittagong was their first Test in 15 months.

Rahim made his Test debut back in 2005, the same year that his opposite number Alastair Cook made his first appearance for his country. But while Cook broke the England record in Chittagong by winning his 134th cap, Rahim was making only his 49th appearance — a stark illustration of how little Test cricket Bangladesh are exposed to.

While Bangladesh have made big strides in one-day cricket, winning six homes series in a row before losing to England earlier this month, Rahim says their lack of opportunities is holding them back in five-day cricket.

Mushfiqur Rahim

"You can always improve if you play more Tests," said Rahim. "I have felt that each of my Tests has been like a debut game, and I have played 49 Tests so far. "I think we should play more Tests, which will give you more consistency in the other formats."

Bangladesh were to have hosted Australia for a Test series last year but the tour was scrapped at the last minute over safety fears.

Since being invited to join the game's top table 16 years ago, Test cricket's newest nation has lost 72 of its 94 Tests and won just seven — five of them against fellow strugglers Zimbabwe. Bangladesh entered the fifth and final day of the first Chittagong Test needing just 33 runs for victory with two wickets left, but could only add 10 to their overnight score.

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