Mushfiq doesn’t need to score every day, says Jaker

Despite struggling for form in recent matches, Mushfiqur Rahim has found support in his teammate, in-form wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali Anik, who remains confident that the experienced batter will soon regain his form. With Mushfiq facing a prolonged dry spell, Jaker is hopeful that his senior teammate will bounce back and start contributing with the bat.

Mushfiq has not managed a half-century in his last 12 innings, with four of those innings failing to even reach double digits. At 37 years old, the lack of runs has raised concerns, particularly after Bangladesh's first Test defeat to Zimbabwe. The ongoing struggles have led to mounting criticism, and the pressure on Mushfiq has intensified following his failure in both innings of the first Test.

However, Jaker has expressed his belief that Mushfiq will find his rhythm again. Speaking ahead of the second Test, Jaker stated, "He's not the only one playing in the team. Everyone has to score runs… It's not necessary for him to score every day, it can happen to anyone."

In the first innings, Bangladesh were dismissed for just 191 runs, with Zimbabwe posting 273 runs to take an 82-run lead. Bangladesh's second innings didn't fare much better, with the team only managing to score just over 250 runs. Mushfiq's contribution was minimal, scoring just four runs in both innings, adding more weight to the discussion about his form.

Jaker also praised his teammate Hasan Mahmud for his spirit in the second innings, highlighting the importance of showing determination even when runs aren't flowing.

Jaker added, "I really liked the way Hasan batted. The fight he showed was impressive. If everyone maintains this intent, even if they don't score runs every day, big runs can be achieved.