When asked about him, head coach Hathurusinghe said, “Sharaful is doing well. He has played a lot of white ball cricket. So we gave him rest. He doesn't need to bowl because he has already bowled a lot. He is already ready to play.”
Asked how many fast bowlers could be taken, Hathurusinghe said, “Three or two fast bowlers can be taken from the team.”
Regarding uncapped Musfik Hasan and Nahid Rana, Hathurusinghe said, 'Both are potential players for Bangladesh cricket. Both can bowl at a speed of more than 140 kilometers. We've seen how fast they can be. Both are young and strong. Both made a good start to their first-class career. Yes, I am excited. I see the possibility of one or both of them playing the match.
Hathurusinghe also talked about the situation in Sylhet.
“The wicket is a bit different from the New Zealand series (last November). There was not so much grass on the wicket like this time. Weather will also play a role. Considering the opponent and the situation, the challenge in this test looks tough. The New Zealand series was also challenging. We have to do our best to beat them.”