On the last day, there was still enough time for Pakistan to overhaul the fourth innings target. Bangladesh have only declared thirteen times previously in the third innings. Shanto spoke about how his well-rounded bowling attack was the reason behind the bold declaration.
“I think it is important to take such brave decisions,” Shanto said. “I think the Test team is slowly growing up so we could take such a decision (to declare the innings). I think this decision will help us in the future. The reason behind taking this decision is the bowling attack we have, the five bowlers we played in this match, all of them are skilled and all of them bowled well.
“Our only message since the morning was that we want to win the game. Regardless of the situation. Coach (Phil Simmons) repeated the message at the tea break. We went into the field with that message in mind. We thought even if we can’t win this game, we wanted to make it hard for Pakistan. We didn’t think about losing or settling for a draw. We held an aggressive mindset,” said Shanto.
In a bid to bowl out Pakistan in the short window, Bangladesh were looking for wickets constantly. There were several instances when captain Shanto kept fielders to protect boundaries, but several more in catching positions for the same delivery.
“When the game was on the line, I had an in-and-out field. I was constantly thinking how we could cut out their runs. It was a pitch where defending for a long time wasn’t easy. I thought if we could put on one or two good bowling partnerships, we will get opportunities to take wickets. It is always difficult for a new batter here,” Shanto said.
As one of Bangladesh’s regular slip fielders, Shanto is often seen making the run from his field position to the bowling mark, to speak to the likes of Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain and Nahid Rana. Just before Saud Shakeel’s dismissal, Shanto was seen discussing with Rana, later saying that he lets Rana make his own decisions and only passes on suggestions.
“I think I needed to speak to him more in the past, but slowly it is becoming less and less. Sometimes I don’t even go up to him. I think it is important that he bowls from his own understanding. It will help him in the future. I think we are having a good combination, me and Rana. I think I have figured out when to go to him, and when not to,” he said.
Shanto, who was out for 87 in the second innings, did not regret falling short of a century but felt he could have capitalised on his first-innings ton. “I think I could have played a bigger knock in the first innings. The way I was batting, the wicket was very challenging especially in the first two or three hours. After that I think the innings could have been a little bigger,” he said.
Shanto could have become just the fourth batter to score twin centuries in the Test on three occasions, joining the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Ricky Ponting and David Warner.
“In the second innings I would say I was able to bat the way I wanted to. Again, the wicket on day three and four was difficult for batters. I batted on day five today. So overall I enjoyed both innings. But if it was one of the greats of the game in my place, that 101 would have been a double-century,” Shanto said.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
