Mominul Haque Sharpens His Bowling Ahead of Bangladesh’s Busy Test Calendar
Bangladesh batter Mominul Haque is making a renewed effort to strengthen his bowling as the national side prepares for a demanding run of Test cricket. While most members of the Test squad are in the United Arab Emirates for the ongoing tri-nation ODI series, Mominul has stayed focused on his red-ball preparation, putting in extended net sessions under Bangladesh Cricket Board High Performance Unit head coach Mohammad Salahuddin.
His work has included bowling to Test opener Shadman Islam, who has been concentrating on batting. The sessions reflect a broader plan: Mominul is not simply keeping his bowling skills active, but aiming to become a more dependable option for the captain when Bangladesh’s frontline bowlers need a break.
A Potential Extra Option for Bangladesh’s Attack
Mominul is a left-arm spinner who has taken 11 wickets in Test cricket. Although bowling has not been a regular feature of his role in recent years, the team management believes he could offer useful overs during long spells in the field. His availability may be especially valuable in conditions where Bangladesh’s specialist spinners are carrying a heavy workload.
Taijul Islam often shoulders a substantial share of the bowling in Test matches. If Mominul can step in for a few overs, Taijul could get time to recover and return with greater energy. Mominul’s left-arm spin would also give the attack a different angle and style, helping the captain vary the bowling rather than relying on the same combination throughout a session.
He could also provide cover for Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh’s off-spinner, if Miraz has bowled for an extended period. That flexibility matters over the course of a Test, when a captain must balance the demands placed on both spinners and fast bowlers. Bringing on a pace bowler to relieve a spinner is not always ideal, particularly when the quicks also need to manage their workload across long spells and multiple days.
From Part-Time Bowler to Prepared Support Option
A member of the team management told Cricbuzz that Mominul understands the value he could bring if he is ready to contribute in the middle of an innings. The aim is to ensure that, should an opportunity arise, he can bowl with confidence rather than being treated as an occasional part-time option.
Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has also encouraged Mominul to give greater attention to his bowling. According to the team management, Shanto asked whether he was willing to focus on that part of his game, and Mominul accepted the challenge. The additional practice is intended to help him become more consistent and prepared to make an impact when called upon.
That does not mean Mominul is expected to replace Bangladesh’s specialist bowlers. Instead, his developing role could give the captain another tactical choice: a few overs to break up a long spell, a change in bowling style, or an opportunity to test a batter with a different line and trajectory. In Test cricket, even a short spell from a fresh bowler can alter the rhythm of an innings.
Experience and Variation Could Count in Test Cricket
Mominul has already shown that he can be more than a nominal bowling option. His most recent Test appearance as a bowler came against New Zealand in Sylhet in 2023, when he returned career-best figures of 3.1 overs, one maiden, four runs and no wickets. While those numbers were not a major spell, they demonstrated his ability to contribute economically when required.
His left-arm spin could be useful in several ways. It can create variation alongside Taijul’s bowling and Miraz’s off-spin, while also allowing Shanto to adjust match-ups according to the batter at the crease. A batter settled against one type of spin may be forced to rethink their footwork and scoring options when the angle changes. For Bangladesh, that extra dimension could be particularly helpful during long innings on surfaces that encourage spin.
There is also a practical benefit to having a batter capable of bowling a controlled spell. Test matches can stretch across five days, and managing the physical demands on the main attack is central to maintaining pressure. A well-prepared supporting bowler can help keep the frontline options fresh for key passages, such as the start of a new spell, a session’s final overs, or a period when a breakthrough is needed.
Preparation for the West Indies Series
Mominul’s renewed focus comes ahead of a busy Test schedule, beginning with Bangladesh’s upcoming two-match series against the West Indies. The first Test is scheduled to start at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on October 28. With the series approaching, the additional practice offers Mominul a chance to build rhythm before the team enters a demanding stretch of red-ball cricket.
For a senior batter, preparation is not limited to time at the crease. Developing a reliable secondary skill can strengthen a player’s overall value to the side, especially when selection and match strategy depend on flexibility. Mominul’s priority will remain his batting, but improved bowling readiness could make him a more complete option for Bangladesh’s Test plans.
What Mominul’s Bowling Focus Could Mean for Bangladesh
Any assessment of Mominul’s potential bowling role should remain measured. He has not been a regular Test bowler, and practice sessions alone do not guarantee a place in the attack. Still, his willingness to work on the skill gives Shanto another possibility to consider as Bangladesh prepares for varied conditions and heavy workloads.
For fans following cricket prediction and team-selection discussions ahead of the West Indies Tests, Mominul’s bowling should be viewed as a supporting factor rather than a major change to Bangladesh’s established attack. If he can deliver accurate, controlled overs, however, his contribution may help the specialist bowlers stay fresher and give the captain greater flexibility. That small tactical advantage could become significant over a long Test match.
