After struggling in the Sylhet Test, Taijul Islam took responsibility for his performance but didn’t hesitate to hit back at those who criticized his bowling after that match.
He walked into the press conference with a smile, clearly satisfied with his five-wicket haul on the final evening. Acknowledging his previous failure, the 33-year-old left-arm spinner was genuinely happy to have bounced back with a strong performance. However, when asked about the criticism he faced, his response became sharp and firm.
On the first day of the Chittagong Test, it was Taijul’s spin that helped Bangladesh make a brilliant comeback. In the final session, he claimed his 16th five-wicket haul in his career. This was his fourth five-wicket haul in the last six Tests, reinforcing his consistency and skill.
A match earlier, in the West Indies series, Taijul had been named Player of the Match after an outstanding performance, and he started the Zimbabwe series with great form. However, he struggled in Sylhet, taking only two wickets in the entire match, conceding 53 runs off 10 overs in the first innings and 70 runs for two wickets in the second.
In Chittagong, though, he turned the tide. His brilliant spell put a stop to Zimbabwe’s dominance in the first two sessions, and he finished the day with 5 wickets for 60 runs.
At the post-match press conference, Taijul reflected on his earlier failure in Sylhet but expressed contentment about bouncing back.
“There’s definitely a sense of satisfaction. Because the way I bowled in Sylhet, it wasn’t something good for someone who’s played fifty Tests. But I’ve come back, and that feels good. The best part is that I’ve been able to help the team,” he said.
In the first Test, Taijul’s lackluster performance was costly for Bangladesh, as they failed to support Mehidy Hasan Miraz with the spin attack. Zimbabwe gained a significant lead in the first innings, and the hosts couldn’t recover to win the match.
National team chief selector, Gazi Ashraf Hossain, noted that Taijul couldn’t deliver his best bowling in the previous match. Afterward, he became the target of online criticism.
When asked if he felt like there was excessive criticism after just one poor performance, Taijul responded with a pointed remark about the critics’ knowledge of the game.
“In my opinion, after playing so many Tests… Alhamdulillah, with all the wickets I’ve taken… people who criticize after just one match, I don’t think they understand the game,” he said firmly.
