Impossible is nothing: Mushfiq

Bangladesh Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim believed that it wouldn’t be impossible for them to get a good result in the forthcoming two-Test series against South Africa, beginning on September 28.
The Tigers left Dhaka on Saturday in two separate groups with batsmen Mahmudullah, Liton Das, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam joining chief selector-cum manager Minhajul Abedin and fast bowling coach Courtney Walsh in the first group.
Mushfiq led the second group of players, which included Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Taskin Ahmed and Mominul Haque.
This will be third Test series for Bangladesh in South Africa and first since 2008 when they lost both the Test matches by an innings margin.
Bangladesh, who also lost two Test matches in 2002 by an innings margin, so far failed to beat South Africa on their home soil in format. The Tigers’ only success in South Africa came against West Indies in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007.
But Test skipper Mushfiq said they would visit South Africa as a much-better team, having won at least two Test matches against Sri Lanka and Australia this year, respectively in away and home.
‘We are in much better shape, an improved team than our last tour. If we can show our skill and execute our plan, definitely as a team we have a chance to play good cricket,’ Mushfiq told reporters at a press conference in Dhaka prior to team’s departure.
‘We don’t have a very good record in South Africa. And very few of our players played in South Africa. It is a kind of place where everybody struggle. Maybe we also have to struggle.
‘Our record in New Zealand was also not good, but we played better cricket this time, we lost both Tests but played much better cricket than the past.
‘We had some good individual performances. So we will try not just as an individual but play well a team…if we can play well two Tests well overseas that will be a kind of message.
‘It’s not going to be easy. But I don’t think it’s an impossible task. Many teams have done it in the past,’ said the wicketkeeper-batsman.
Bangladesh scored 595 runs in the first innings of the first Test against New Zealand in January but yet they managed to lose the game by seven wickets thanks to their woeful second innings batting.
An injury-hit Bangladesh also gave New Zealand a torrid time in the second Test before they lost it by nine wickets. The two competitive matched helped the Tigers believing in themselves, which Mushfiq said was important for any team.
‘Some people may think we don’t have any chance against South Africa. But I don’t agree with them,’ said Mushfiq.
‘Personally, I think if you don’t believe in yourself you won’t get any success. Firstly, we have to believe that it is possible for us to beat South Africa. We did not have this belief even three years ago.
‘So, we have got the confidence. Hopefully, this series will be a kind of landmark for us. And we are ready to take that challenge,’ said Mushfiq.
The skipper, however, added that the absence of all-rounder Sakib al Hasan would be a setback for the team.
Sakib will sit out in two Test matches after asking his board for a six-month break from Tests.
‘You need to play two players in his place, to be honest – one batsman, one bowler... for me as a captain his absence is a kind of setback,’ he said.
The second Test will be held at Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein on October 6-10.
Bangladesh will also play three one-day internationals and two Twenty20s in their month-long tour to the African nation.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net