Pakistan National Cricket Team red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie has made a sensational statement ahead of the fifth and final day of the second Test against the Bangladesh National Cricket Team. The ongoing Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh will reach its final day on September 3, and the visitors are looking like favorites to seal the win.
However, ahead of an entertaining day 5, Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie advised his team to retain the morale. Jason Gillespie believes if Pakistan steps on the ground with a mindset of losing, there is no point in fighting at all.
Pakistan on verge of famous series whitewash vs Pakistan
After a historic 10-wicket victory in the first Test, Bangladesh are 143 runs away from toppling history books all over again. Bangladesh’s performance as a unit has been commendable as they challenged Pakistan every step of the way. After Litton Das’ 138 run resilience from 26/6, Bangladeshi bowlers stumped Pakistan for 172 runs in the third inning.
That situation arose a little more than 24 hours earlier, but in the way the Test has gone, might easily have happened a lifetime ago. Since then, Bangladesh dug in with a 165-run seventh-wicket stand to eventually finish at near-parity; the 262 they posted was the highest score in Test history for a side that lost their first six wickets under 50. Jason Gillespie said Pakistan’s bowlers needed to understand how to manage those situations more effectively than was on evidence on Sunday.
On the fourth morning, Bangladesh replicated the success Pakistan had enjoyed the previous day, skittling the hosts out for 172, with all ten wickets falling to the quicks. Under dark clouds, with conditions as helpful to the quicks as Rawalpindi will ever provide, Zakir Hasan flayed Pakistan’s new-ball bowlers, helping the team to 42 without loss in seven overs before bad light suspended play.
Jason Gillespie, Pakistan’s Test coach has urged his team to maintain faith on the last day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, even though they were in a difficult situation.
Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie’s sensational statement before final day of PAK vs BAN 2nd Test
Pakistan bowling coach Jason Gillespie called for the side to believe on the final day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi despite being in a precarious position. After a shocking defeat in the opening Test, their first-ever in the format against Bangladesh, the hosts are on the brink of losing the series 0-2.
Bangladesh enters the final day at 42/0 in 7 overs, chasing a target of 185 to complete the series whitewash.
At the press conference after the close of play on Day 4, Gillespie admitted the visitors were ahead but called on his side to fight back.
“Admittedly, the odds are probably in favour of Bangladesh. We don’t shy away from that, but we’ve already lost if we walk out there expecting to lose. We took 6 for 26 in the first innings so we know that we can have an impact with the ball if we bowl really well. We’ve spoken to our bowlers about being ruthless, being disciplined and bowling with intent,” said Gillespie.
He added:
“And we just went away from our game plan and I’ve challenged the bowlers pretty strongly on that. We need to make sure that we’re on each and every time, because Test cricket can get away from you. The opposition is very good and I’m not going to shy away from saying Bangladesh played well.
No question. But I know that our bowlers can do better in that situation than what they showed and we just need to make sure that execution is absolutely bang on each and every time.”
Pakistan had Bangladesh on the ropes at 26/6 in the first innings but allowed them to reach 262, only 12 runs behind their first innings total. The bowlers were wayward yet again on the fourth evening, conceding two fours and as many maximums in the short seven-over stint.
“Hoping that we can create some theatre and put a smile on a few people’s faces here in Pakistan” – Jason Gillespie
Jason Gillespie was adamant about his side wanting to get on the field and force a win despite predictions of overnight and morning rain on Day 5 of the ongoing second Test.
After Day 1 was entirely washed out due to bad weather, Days 2 and 3 remained uninterrupted before the fourth day saw an early ending due to bad light.
“I hope we get on tomorrow so we can try and win a Test match. We’ve got to have that mindset. Sometimes, you need those 50-50 things to go your way but we’ve got to have that attitude and mindset that we’re going to go there to win the Test match for Pakistan. This game can create all sorts of drama. So I’m hoping that we can create some theatre and put a smile on a few people’s faces here in Pakistan tomorrow,” said Gillespie.
A Bangladesh win or a draw will mean a first Test series win for them against Pakistan.