Short-pitch stuff was part of our plan: Shahadat

Mirpur:

Hurling short-pitch stuff at the Indian batsmen was part of Bangladesh's bowling plans as the visitors are known to be vulnerable against such deliveries, home side pacer Shahadat Hossain said.

"We planned short pitched deliveries as we know Indian batsmen like Rahul Dravid and especially Virender Sehwag are not comfortable with bouncers. We got success and Sehwag was out (to short pitched delivery)," Shahadat said in the press conference at the end of second day's play.

India have already consolidated their position by taking a 226-run lead with five wickets in hand but Shahadat said his team would remain positive.

"We hope we can bowl India out and hopefully our batsmen will put up a big score in second innings. So, we are thinking positive and hoping to do well in the remaining days," said the lanky pacer.

Even though the Indian batsmen dominated the day, Shahadat said his team didn't do too badly.

"We are happy at our bowling performance today. We bowled at the right areas and implemented our plans," he added.

Asked how he felt that his low bouncer hit Dravid on the left cheek which resulted in a fractured jaw, Shahadat said in a lighter vein, "It is good that such a good batsman is injured from my delivery."

Shahadat, however, regretted missing Sachin Tendulkar's scalp after teammate Raqibul Hasan dropped the batsman when he was on 27.

"I was a bit disappointed as Raqibul is our best fielder. But it's part and parcel of the game. I wanted to take Tendulkar's wicket but could not," he said.