Photo : Collected

DHAKA, April 26, 2025 (BSS)—In a bid to avoid an ignominious whitewash at the hand of Zimbabwe, Bangladesh turned their main focus on batting, an area in which they remained absolutely vulnerable, said middle order batter Jaker Ali Anik.

The batting meltdown was key in their three-wicket loss in the first Test against Zimbabwe. The defeat which paved the way to be swept against a side, termed as minnows, is considered as the lowest ebb in Bangladesh’s cricket.

“We are looking at the process to get out of this bitter situation,” Jaker told the reporters at Bir Shrestha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram today.

“Since the first Test did not go as we planned, we believe we need to fix the things. We have discussed about it,” he added.

Of course, the focus on batting will be our main agenda, because we’ve been struggling for a quite long time, he remarked.

Getting all out below 200 in the first innings, became now quite normal for Bangladesh, at least on home ground, where they haven’t won any Test match since 2023.

In the first innings of the Sylhet Test, the Tigers as it was adorably called, were bowled out for just 191 and conceded 82-run lead. In the second innings too, they continued their wayward batting to be all out for just 255, setting Zimbabwe a meager 174-run for a victory.

Albeit a hiccup, Zimbabwe reached the target to seal their first victory in Test format since 2021 and first on Bangladesh soil since 2018.

After arriving in Chattogram on Friday, the Bangladesh team started training there today.

Jaker also repeatedly used the word 'process' that Bangladeshi cricketers always use in various contexts.

“We can lose to anyone. But I think the process should be right for everyone,” he said.

Jaker who made 58 in the second innings to achieve the rare feat of hitting at least one half-century in each of his first four Tests, however, did not try to hide the extremely poor state of batting.

“I am talking about batting. We have suffered because of our batting,” he said, adding that they need to improve the shot selections issue.

“We have discussed how to improve shot selection. Bowlers do not always win the Test. We want all our batsmen to give their best performance in the coming match,” he added.

The wicket at Chattogram is one of the best batting wickets in the country. However focus will be on veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim who had gone without any fifty in the last 12 innings.

Jake backed Mushfiqur to get back amongst runs, saying that the experience batter whose last fifty plus innings was an epic 191 in Rawalpindi Test against Pakistan, trained hard to iron out his problems.

“Look, he’s not the only player in the side. He doesn’t have to score all the runs all the time,” Jaker said.

“We all have to contribute. Right now, he might not be scoring, and that’s okay. It can happen to anyone. The responsibility is on all of us.”

“But he is doing extra work to fix the problems. We hope he will get back amongst runs very soon.”

According to Jaker, they need to show the fight even if they are unable to make healthy score.

“If not runs, at least we need to show fight—like Hasan did,” Jaker said, highlighting the example of lower-order batter Hasan Mahmud, who dug in and added 12 off 58 balls in a crucial late partnership on Day 4 of the Sylhet Test.

“Not everyone will score every day, but we must show intent. If we do that, I believe the big runs will come,” Jaker added.