‘Wife might scold me’: Mominul quips on regret over missing ton

It was a satisfying opening day for Bangladesh as they closed day one of the first Test against Pakistan at a commanding 301 for four at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Friday.

The innings was built on a strong foundation laid by skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, who struck a fluent 101, and Mominul Haque, who fell just short on 91. Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 48, ensuring Bangladesh finished the day firmly in control.

Left-hander Mominul looked in sublime touch throughout his innings, showcasing his trademark composure and timing. However, his wait for a century continued as he was dismissed in the nineties once again—something he admitted brought a brief moment of disappointment, though not without humour.

“No, there was no regret before. Today, there was a little, that too because of fear that my wife might scold me,” Mominul joked at the post-day press conference in Mirpur.

The 33-year-old, however, said the feeling was fleeting.

“After getting out, I felt bad for two or three minutes. But for me, scoring runs regularly and contributing for the team is more important than a hundred,” he said.

Mominul has now missed out on a century in each of his last four innings, prompting questions over conversion. Asked whether he prioritises consistency over big hundreds, he responded candidly: “Who doesn’t want hundreds? Everyone wants hundreds.”

Despite the near-miss, Mominul insisted he is enjoying his batting and focusing on his natural game.

“I try to bat the way I enjoy batting in Tests. I don’t think too much. If I can stick to my routine and process, runs will come,” he said.

He also acknowledged that the repeated failures to convert starts into big scores may have a mental dimension.

“It could be a mental aspect. When I go out to bat, I’m not thinking I must score a hundred. Maybe I need to think a bit more about batting longer—four or five sessions. That focus might help me convert starts into 100s or 150s. I may need to be a bit stricter with myself there,” he added.

Mominul also confirmed that he occasionally seeks input from former Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha.

“Yes, when I am in trouble, I do talk to him. Not necessarily trouble—if there is confusion, I discuss it with him,” he said.