Bangladesh found themselves wanting initially in the only Test against Zimbabwe but a valuable partnership between Liton Das and Mahmudullah turned the tide in their favour.
Discussing his decision to bat first, he pointed out that the presence of spinners in the playing XI made his decision-making process easier as the surface promised to assist spinners on the final two days of the Test.
"After looking at the pitch, I expected it to turn on the fourth or fifth day, which is why I decided to bat first. We had belief that our spinners could take advantage of those conditions. It would have been difficult to make a combination in these conditions without Shakib bhai. Looking at the wicket, I thought that some of us might struggle but with a long batting line-up, we could get away from it,” Mominul Haque said in the post-match press conference.
He conceded that the conditions could have been far trickier than they would have liked but the move of playing extra batsman worked perfectly for his side. He commended both Mahmudullah and Liton Das along with Taskin Ahmed to keep the side ahead in the first innings and the top order batsmen for cashing in on advantage in the second innings.
"Riyad bhai's partnership with Liton was critical as we were 132-6 at that stage. Riyad played an outstanding innings. Taskin's 75 was also important to win this Test match. Staying ahead in the first innings keeps you in the game for long. Shanto and Shadman played well in the second innings without pressure, which is how it should be. I think they utilised the situation very well by batting normally," he said.
Calling the win against Zimbabwe a big moment, Haque said that the win will help boost the morale of the side in the World Test Championship. He said that a clinical win will enable players to understand their roles better however he underlined the team is focusing on improving their ‘small processes.’
"This Test win will build confidence in everyone ahead of the World Test Championship. They would know their role better. We are trying to improve small processes, rather than plan big,” Haque added.
The win over Zimbabwe would come as a sense of relief for Mominul Haque personally after digesting a humiliating defeat at the hands of West Indies at home earlier this year.