The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh vice captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has said they still have to play Muralitharan whether there is a Murali scare or not among them.

"Murali becomes a factor to all other teams. Perhaps, our skipper could make a proper comment on him. But we still have to play him whether there is a Murali scare among us or not," he said at a post-match briefing at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) here Sunday.

Muttiah Muralitharan claimed six wickets for 49 runs in 22 overs to wrap up the Bangladesh's first innings only for 178.

Asked what will be their batting approach if Sri Lanka declared their 2nd innings early on the next day (Tuesday), the pace spearhead said: "Not to give our wickets. They may introduce Murali (Muralitharan) or (Rangana) Herath after eight to nine overs. I think, it will be better for us to become set, stay at the wicket and then to play long innings."

About the present state of the match, he said: "They (Sri Lanka) already took a lead of over 400. They may bat further, or may declare (the innings) considering the weather. They might consider this lead as enough if they look back to our first innings of (178).

"We will have to try to go as far as possible, put up some good partnerships. Murali may bowl for most of the time and he is really deadly."

The `Narail Express' thinks it would be better for them not to play too many shots against Muralitharan and instead play by just rotating the strikes.

Mashrafe gave full credit to Muralitharan, saying: "Murali is such a bowler who can extract turn from any kind of wicket… main thing is that we will have to bat well against him."