West Indies expressed disappointment over the early end to the opening day's play in the Dhaka Test against Bangladesh, while opener Shadman Islam impressed the hosts' camp with a patient unbeaten 99 on Wednesday.
Bangladesh finished Day 1 at 213 for 3 after Shadman anchored the innings with a composed performance, keeping the West Indies bowlers at bay throughout the day.
The visitors were hoping to take advantage of Litton Das arriving at the crease in the 66th over after Towhid Hridoy was stretchered off with cramps. However, play was interrupted twice due to poor light, with the umpires first stopping proceedings at 3:15 pm for 53 minutes before calling stumps at 5 pm.
West Indies left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, who claimed two wickets, admitted that his side was disappointed with the decision but acknowledged the umpires' authority.
"At the end of the day, the umpires have the last say," Warrican said. "We were a little disappointed because Litton Das came out to bat, so we wanted an opportunity to get a quick wicket and continue to get more wickets in that session."
Warrican added that his team had to accept the decision and remain professional, despite missing an opportunity to put further pressure on Bangladesh.
He also noted that the pitch offered more assistance to the bowlers early in the day, but West Indies failed to capitalise fully on the conditions.
Shadman Islam Impresses with Disciplined Knock
Shadman was the standout performer for Bangladesh, displaying patience, sound shot selection and excellent control throughout his innings. He built valuable partnerships of more than 50 runs with Mominul Haque and Towhid Hridoy to guide the hosts to a strong position.
Bangladesh batting coach Mohammad Salahuddin praised Shadman's approach, highlighting his ability to assess the conditions and avoid unnecessary risks.
"I think he assessed the wicket very well. He didn't play a lot of risky shots in the entire day," Salahuddin said, adding that the opener had maintained control of his innings even when the conditions became challenging.
Salahuddin was particularly pleased to see Shadman spend extended time at the crease after a period in which the batter had frequently been dismissed in the 50s and 60s.
The coach expressed hope that the innings would help Shadman improve his ability to convert promising starts into big hundreds. With only two centuries in more than 30 Test appearances, the opener has been working on extending his innings.
Bangladesh Camp Anxious as Shadman Falls One Run Short
Shadman ended the day unbeaten on 99, leaving him just one run short of a century. The early finish denied him the opportunity to reach the milestone before stumps, leaving the Bangladesh dressing room waiting anxiously for the next day's play.
"We were hoping he could complete his century on the first day," Salahuddin said, expressing confidence that the innings could prove valuable for the batter's future.
The coach believes Shadman is beginning to understand what is required to turn half-centuries into hundreds and develop greater consistency in Test cricket.
Warrican Praises West Indies' Bowling Discipline
Despite Bangladesh's steady progress, Warrican was satisfied with the discipline shown by the West Indies bowling attack. He praised fast bowlers Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph for providing a solid foundation before the spinners attempted to restrict the scoring.
Warrican also highlighted the contribution of debutant Joshua Bishop, who maintained a tight line and length despite remaining wicketless on the opening day.
"He was very consistent, good economy rate. He's yet to get a wicket, but I know he will get some tomorrow," Warrican said.
He added that maintaining a good economy rate is particularly important in subcontinental conditions and encouraged Bishop to continue bowling with confidence.
With Bangladesh at 213 for 3 and Shadman Islam on the verge of a century, the hosts will look to build a substantial first-innings total on Day 2, while West Indies will aim to make early breakthroughs and regain control of the contest.
