Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has called for more Test fixtures against the world’s top sides after his team completed a historic 2-0 series whitewash of Pakistan at home, winning both matches within the space of just ten days.
Speaking at the post-match press conference following the second Test in Sylhet, Shanto was candid about the areas still requiring improvement, whilst making clear his satisfaction at the progress being made.
“There is still room to improve in certain areas,” he said. “The bigger teams perhaps handle pressure more calmly, but we have improved in that regard. As a captain, I am pleased about that. And overall, yes, playing two Test matches in ten days is certainly something to be proud of.”
The Bangladesh skipper was effusive in crediting his players and support staff for the victory, pointing to meticulous preparation and a settled team environment as key factors behind the result.
“All credit goes to the players and the curator. We prepared brilliantly, and that helped us perform well in these conditions. The fast bowlers were outstanding in this heat, on flat wickets. This is the kind of improvement we have always wanted. We are building excellent partnerships now, and the tail-enders are contributing too. We wanted to improve in these areas, and I hope we can sustain it.”
Shanto was equally clear-eyed about what lies ahead. With a tour of Australia on the horizon, he acknowledged that the real test of Bangladesh’s progress will come away from home.
“The away series are what matter most now,” he said. “We performed reasonably well abroad during the last cycle. This year brings some challenging tours and new experiences. If we keep playing well, we will do well there too, inshallah.”
Looking further ahead, Shanto expressed a strong desire for Bangladesh to feature more regularly against the elite sides in world cricket, both at home and on foreign soil.
“We want to play more and more Tests against Australia, England, and India, in both home and away conditions. When we get those opportunities and gain those new experiences, that is when the team will gradually grow and develop. I hope the ICC will give us more Test matches against all sides. We are getting more opportunities now, which is a positive sign, but if we can play even more against Australia, England, and India specifically, that will be better still for the development of this team.”
