While many felt for Bangladesh when its rare Test fixtures against Australia got indefinitely postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, skipper Mominul Haque is seeing the positive side of the series' suspension.
Mominul even deemed it a blessing in disguise because it raises the possibility of Bangladesh having ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan back in the line-up to face the Aussies on home soil at a later date.
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Cricket Australia (CA) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday (April 9) unanimously decided to postpone the two-match series, an important part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, scheduled originally for June this summer.
Shakib is serving the ban imposed on him by the ICC for failing to report a corrupt approach, which is due to be over at the end of October this year.
"I am not disappointed that the two Test matches against Australia is postponed," Mominul told Cricbuzz. "Rather it has opened the door for us to compete against them with our full strength team considering we will have Shakib bhai back in our squad if the two Test matches get shifted next year."
Shakib's importance to Bangladesh in either department, especially at home, can't be overstated. ''The presence of Shakib bhai will naturally bolster our squad because, without him, I would have to search for another left-hand spinner, so it is good from one-side and in that sense, I am not extremely worried with how things are panning out at the moment," said Mominul.
"If the Tests are shifted to April, then Shakib bhai will be more than prepared to take on the Aussies. As a captain I would always like to have my best player around while taking on teams like Australia," the captain added.
Bangladesh's fixture in Karachi against Pakistan was also suspended and there is also growing uncertainty over the nation's series against New Zealand. But Mominul is "optimistic" that at some stage those games, along with the ones versus Australia, will be played, possibly in an extended Test championship cycle.
"Look no one is responsible for what is happening now so I feel there is no point losing my sleep over it. I am an optimistic guy and always try to think positively in every situation," he said. "This is part of the ICC Test Championship, so they will have to play."
"If they don't play then it will not be good for them and also for us. Matches will take place again in a convenient time so there is nothing to be frustrated about."
(Inputs from Cricbuzz)
