“Focus on the process rather than the outcome”, that is the mindset Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto wants his team to carry as they return to red-ball cricket after six months with a two-match Test series against Pakistan.
Since their last Test assignment against Ireland in November 2025, the players have remained busy with various white-ball commitments, raising questions over whether they have had enough preparation ahead of the first Test, which begins on May 8. But Shanto made it clear on Thursday that Bangladesh will not use preparation as an excuse.
While players involved in the two white-ball formats got the opportunity to play a number of matches, those in the Test setup managed to play only one round of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL). Due to a packed international calendar and scheduling complications in domestic cricket, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) could not ensure red-ball match time for everyone. Still, Shanto believes the team have prepared well enough, at least mentally, through their white-ball cricket.
Speaking at a press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday, Shanto said he does not want to make excuses about the team’s preparation.
Shanto stressed, “Those who were playing white-ball cricket could have benefited if they had the chance to play red-ball matches. But we also have to understand the situation. We didn’t really have that option. The players who have been around for a long time know mentally what the next series demands.”
“So gradually, they prepare themselves in that way. We also got several days of practice. So from that perspective, I don’t want to make any excuses about our preparation”, he added.
Bangladesh last faced Pakistan in a historic series in 2024, when they completed a 2-0 sweep in Rawalpindi. Asked whether they are targeting another whitewash this time, Shanto said his focus remains on competing well over the course of the series rather than thinking about the result.
“Personally, I never think about a whitewash. It’s a 10-day contest five days for each Test. My focus is on how we can play better cricket than them across those 10 days and stay competitive. The process is much more important rather than thinking about the outcome” he said.
