Bangladesh’s first Test tour of Australia in 23 years brings a mix of anticipation and adversity. Injuries to key players have disrupted the visitors’ preparations, but belief within the squad remains undimmed ahead of one of cricket’s toughest assignments. In an exclusive interview with TIMES of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief selector and former Test captain Habibul Bashar discusses the significance of the long-awaited tour, the challenge of replacing three regulars and the mindset needed to compete in Australian conditions.
You toured Australia as a player in 2003, and now you’re returning as chief selector. What do you feel about the team?
Missing three players from a playing XI is a major setback. Until the Zimbabwe series, we were mentally very confident. The team was in peak shape. But no matter how good a side is, when three regular performers are ruled out, replacing them becomes very difficult.
Litton is one of the strongest pillars of our batting. Nahid Rana is someone who could change the course of a match, and Shoriful has been performing well. Losing three regular performers has certainly made our job much harder.
That said, the players we have are experienced, and they will have to step up. Australia is a very tough place to win. If I say we are definitely going to win there, that would be unrealistic. It will require a complete collective effort. Australia play hard cricket and they do not give you an inch. We have to match that intensity.
You said earlier that you want Bangladesh to return from Australia with respect. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s thoughts are also on the same line. Regardless of the result, how difficult will that be?
I am an optimistic person. Whenever I go somewhere to compete, the first thing I believe is that if I don’t have hope, then there is no point in going. If I tell myself beforehand that Australia are too good and we cannot do it, then we never will.
I know they are a very good side. I know they beat almost everyone in their own conditions. But there is no harm in trying. You can always try.
Bangladesh have won away Tests before despite missing frontline stars. For example, the victory against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui in 2022 came without stalwarts like Shakib and Tamim…
Exactly. When we beat New Zealand in New Zealand, many of our best players were unavailable. Tamim and Shakib were not there. Our core group was missing. Yet we beat New Zealand in New Zealand. For a subcontinent team, that’s an incredibly difficult achievement.
These things happen in cricket. So we have to stay hopeful and believe in ourselves. The challenge is undoubtedly tough, but it’s not something that cannot be done. That’s the mindset I want to take into this tour.
You played against arguably Australia’s greatest-ever Test side in 2003. How do you feel about those memories?
The Australian team we played against was extraordinary. I don’t think Australia themselves will ever produce another team as dominant as that one. It was a fearsome side.
Just look at their top order. Almost everyone averaged over 40 in Test cricket. Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn, you name it.
Back then Bangladesh had limited facilities and batsmen rarely faced that kind of pace at home. How can today’s batters adapt to those conditions?
It was tough. Brett Lee was genuinely quick and it took time to adjust to his pace. But Glenn McGrath was even tougher because of the extra bounce he generated.
For me, there was always a desire to prove myself. In conditions like those, you have to raise your game to another level. That’s the mentality you need. You have to adapt to the conditions as quickly as possible and trust your natural instincts.
When I played in Darwin, I felt the conditions were actually not that different from Bangladesh. So that could work in our favour. I don’t know exactly how the conditions are there right now, but I expect they will be quite similar. We will have a better understanding once we arrive.
Do you think it will take another 23 years for the next tour, or will the gap become shorter?
I think so. I believe the gap won’t be that long again. If we perform well on this tour, it will be a big statement for Bangladesh.
What does this Australia tour mean to you personally, not as chief selector?
To be very honest, if we perform well, it will be a huge statement for all of us—not just for me as chief selector, but for everyone who has represented Bangladesh in this format. It would be a very significant statement for ourselves and for Bangladesh cricket.
