Pakistan eyeing a first-innings total of 400-450: Khurram Shahzad

Pakistan fast bowler Khurram Shahzad said on Saturday that they are eyeing a first-innings total of 400 to 450 in Sylhet, adding that the pitch is far more batting-friendly than the one used in Dhaka.

“This pitch is very different from Dhaka. In Dhaka, the pitch was supporting the bowlers because it had a lot of cracks – there was up and down and uneven bounce. Here, it seems like a lot of runs can be made. So if we get a good partnership, we will try to score 400 or 450,” Shahzad said after the day’s play which saw Pakistan finish on 21/0 in reply to Bangladesh’s first-innings total, still trailing by 257 runs.

Bangladesh had been reduced to 116 for 6 before Litton Das led the recovery, and Khurram admitted dropped chances proved costly.

“They were 6 down for 116, as you said. Litton, as I said before, played very luckily today. Not one, but two chances were created. So, if those had been taken, this is all ifs and buts, the result could have been totally different,” he said.

“Maybe they would have been bowled out under 200. We cannot change past decisions now. But we have to look ahead. Insha’Allah, now it is our batting turn, so we will focus on making a big total. We must ensure we do not repeat these mistakes in the second innings and get them out,” he added.