"All I wanted was to bat long" - Zakir Hasan on debut ton

Zakir Hasan was over the moon after stumps on Day 4. The 24-year old was handed a surprise by India's head coach and legendary batsman Rahul Dravid who congratulated him for his valiant effort in the opening Test while inspecting the surface just before the debutant was about to address the press conference.

The opener couldn't have asked for more in his first ever Test match as he became the fourth player from his country make a century on debut. Zakir made 100 runs from 224 balls in the tall run chase to announce his arrival on the big stage.

"Sir (Rahul) greeted me. He said I batted well. It is inspirational for such a great player and coach coming to congratulate me. It is a great feeling," said Zakir. "I feel good scoring a hundred. I didn't have much expectations and all I wanted was to bat long since we are facing two days and a big total.

"I wanted to bat a little longer for the team. It might have been easier for them (in the chase)," he said while adding that he was not very uncomfortable opening the innings even though it isn't his preferred position.

"I have usually batted at No 3 and 4. I haven't opened the batting much. I usually face the new ball in first-class cricket. At times you get to bat after the first ball if you are at No 3, so you have to face the new ball. I was confident."

Zakir said that his unbeaten century against India A helped him gain confidence ahead of the Test series. "That innings (173 not out against India A ) provided me a lot of confidence. I was trying to follow the same process of that innings. It was in the back of the mind that I must stick to the process while playing. A big score leading into a national call-up is certainly a turning point," he said.

"I was trying to follow the way I bat in first-class cricket. I didn't want to think this is a big Test match. I tried to be as simple as possible. It was the same when I was in the nineties. I tried to follow the preparation when I bat in the nineties in first-class cricket. I was trying to follow it every ball," he said

"I think I held on to my temperament because I played so much first-class cricket. I have a number of big innings in that format. I think I knew my process about scoring runs quite well," he said while pointing out that playing in Dukes in the National Cricket League also benefited him.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board