Bangladesh made no effort to win, Shanto’s selfish batting overshadows twin centuries

Sports Desk

On the fifth day in Galle, Najmul Hossain Shanto scored another century in the second innings. He became the first Bangladeshi player to record twin centuries in Test matches twice. However, this was merely a personal achievement. Shanto selfishly wasted a lot of time for his century, not allowing the bowlers enough overs.

The draw in the Galle Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka might appear to have earned Bangladesh a point. But upon deeply observing the overall picture of the match and Bangladesh’s approach, it becomes evident that this was not just a draw but a reflection of a defeatist mentality. This mindset is the primary reason for repeated stumbles on big stages, which was once again glaringly exposed in this Test.

Lackluster batting and absence of intent to win

At the end of the fourth day, Bangladesh began their batting on the fifth day with seven wickets in hand and a lead of 187 runs. Before the rain in the first session, they scored only 60 runs in 19 overs. There was no urgency to accelerate among the batsmen. Mushfiqur Rahim’s 49 off 102 balls and Shanto’s extremely slow batting further solidified this notion. After a prolonged rain delay, questions arose about whether Bangladesh would declare their innings or continue batting.

Shanto returned to bat again for his century. To everyone’s surprise, Bangladesh batted for another 11 overs. Shanto, showing a negative approach without taking any risks, completed his century in 190 balls.

Shanto’s second century in the Test is undoubtedly a significant personal achievement. However, the process of scoring this century and the subsequent scenes raise questions about viewing cricket as a team game. His attempt to play a few big shots after ensuring his century made his “selfishness” appear even more glaring. After the rain break, the cracks on the pitch became more dangerous, and the ball occasionally became unplayable.

When Bangladesh declared their innings with a lead of 295 runs, only 37 overs remained for Sri Lanka. A draw seemed inevitable. However, Sri Lanka lost four wickets in the final session. Had Bangladesh bowled for at least 20 more overs, the result of the match might have been different. But Shanto’s century appeared to matter more than the team’s interest.