Focus on T20s impacted Test performance, says chief selector

Bangladesh national team's recent performances in Tests with a creaking top-order batting have created concern ahead of their series against New Zealand.

The Tigers departed for New Zealand last night after the fifth day of the second Test, where they slumped to an innings defeat to Pakistan at Dhaka. With so many poor performances across all departments, expectations are that the defeats in New Zealand will be more embarrassing. National team chief selector Minhajul Abedin however opined that Bangladesh will be able to turn things around in New Zealand while also citing why the team may have done badly in the Tests.

"Ahead of the series, we will get a good amount of time for practice. Then we also have practice matches. What's positive is that before going to New Zealand, the team has played two Tests. After two practice matches the team will play the Tests and I believe we will be able to turn things around," the chief selector said while talking to the media.

The Pakistan Tests were always going to be a difficult task with a few young players featuring in the team. Ahead of the Tests, Bangladesh were whitewashed in the three-match T20I series. In fact, Bangladesh have now played quite a few T20 seriews on the trot including the T20 World Cup. Even as Bangladesh's record in the longest format is nothing home to write about, Minhajul dictated that playing quite a few T20I series on the trot might have affected preparations for Tests.

"Before the Pakistan series, we had our focus on T20 cricket for a long period of time. From there, we had to play the longest format and maybe that's why we played the Test series badly," Minhajul concluded.