Wasn't Aware Of The Declaration, Had 300 On Mind: Mushfiqur Rahim

In-form Bangladesh batsman Mushfiqur Rahim admitted having a sense on the triple-hundred mark before a surprise declaration was made on day 3 of the Mirpur Test against Zimbabwe.

Mushfiqur Rahim packed a punch against Zimbabwe

The former skipper made 203 and laced 28 fours in an innings that spanned over seven hours and 318 balls. He said the morning session on day 4 could have just pushed his chances of scoring a record triple ton. The former skipper has three double hundreds to his name and this was his second against Zimbabwe.

“I wasn’t aware that we would be declaring today,” he said. “I felt that with two days in hand and by batting more on this wicket, we could have helped deteriorate it further. There wasn’t any discussion about declaration during the tea break, and we only heard thirty minutes before that we want to give Zimbabwe six to eight overs to bat later in the session.

Bangladesh picked two vital wickets before stumps. Rahim said the bowling department is capable of getting the opposition out inside two days and that the call by the Mominul Haque and the management took him by surprise. However, he didn’t question the decision.

“If we were still batting, it would have been easier for me [to get a triple], had Liton got to his hundred. Perhaps in the first session tomorrow, I could have reached [the triple-century]. I didn’t ask about the decision, but it could be [due to the weather]. But our bowling attack is capable to bowl them out.”

The hosts declared on 560/6, leaving Zimbabwe with a mammoth task to cut down the deficit. Apart from Rahim, Mominul took the onus on himself and hit a patient 132. Nayeem Hasan scalped both the wickets late on day 3.