Shadman Islam Nears Century as Salahuddin Hails Batting Breakthrough

Bangladesh interim assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin believes opener Shadman Islam has finally found his rhythm in Test cricket after anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 99 on the opening day of the first Test against the West Indies on Wednesday, October 28. Bangladesh concluded the day at 213/3, thanks to a solid batting performance against a disciplined West Indies bowling lineup.

Shadman came agonizingly close to registering his third Test century but was denied by the day’s end. His near-century holds added weight given past criticisms over his struggles to convert promising starts into substantial scores. The unbeaten innings marked a turning point, showcasing improved judgment and patience.

Salahuddin revealed that the entire team was eager to see Shadman cross the three-digit mark, expressing confidence that this knock could serve as a catalyst for future success. “We all wanted him to reach 100. In Test cricket, he’s played around 30 matches but has only managed two centuries,” Salahuddin said in an interview with Cricbuzz. “This number should have been higher. Hopefully, this innings gives him clarity on what it takes to convert starts into big scores.”

“I think this number should have been higher. I hope this innings helps him understand more about what it takes to actually score 100. And I think this innings can help him a lot in his later life,” he added.

Salahuddin praised Shadman’s composure, especially in handling challenging moments throughout his innings. The opener demonstrated remarkable discipline by avoiding risky shots and pacing his approach according to match conditions. “He assessed the pitch well and played within his comfort zone,” Salahuddin noted. “Earlier, he had plenty of starts in the 50s and 60s but couldn’t extend them. This time, he showed maturity and kept the innings under control.”

“I would say he assessed the wicket very well and if you look at the whole innings he did not play too many risky shots… Sometimes we may play risky shots or face tough periods where we lose focus. But he assessed the situation and moved through those phases smoothly,” Salahuddin commented.

Salahuddin Credits Former Coach Ashraful for Shadman’s Growth

Salahuddin also acknowledged the role of former Bangladesh batting coach Mohammad Ashraful, whose work with the squad over the past year contributed significantly to the team’s improved batting standards. Taking over as interim assistant coach for the West Indies series, Salahuddin emphasized that Ashraful’s foundational efforts were instrumental in shaping the current mindset of the batters.

“There wasn’t enough time to implement major changes before the series, so much of the credit goes to Ashraful. He worked closely with the batsmen for a year, helping them build better processes and mental resilience,” Salahuddin stated.

“Shadman had many starts that didn’t translate into big scores. Maybe he realized something about his technique or discussed it with the coach. Whatever it was, it’s paying off now,” he added.

Looking ahead, Salahuddin remains optimistic that Shadman’s newfound consistency will fuel his ambition of crossing the century mark regularly. “I’ve waited a long time to see such a long innings from him. Let’s hope he builds on this and takes future knocks even further,” he concluded.

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