Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons set a clear target on Wednesday as his side prepare to face Pakistan in their first Test series of the year, with the team returning to red-ball cricket after a break.
Bangladesh beat Pakistan in a previous series in 2024, but Simmons refused to lean on that result. He said, “Whitewashing Pakistan is in the past. That is gone. We want to create new history in this series.”
He pointed to clarity of roles as a key factor, especially for young fast bowler Nahid Rana. “The best thing about Nahid Rana is his understanding. He knows where he is and what his job is,” Simmons said.
Simmons also addressed Mushfiqur Rahim’s upcoming milestone. The senior batter stands on the brink of his 100th Test. “I have known Mushfiq for a short time, but I have seen that whether it is his first Test, 50th or 100th, it is all the same for him. He prepares the same way. He will treat his 101st match the same as the others,” Simmons said.
Bangladesh shift from white-ball cricket back to Tests for this series. Simmons framed that change as a mental adjustment rather than a technical overhaul. “Test cricket is mainly a mindset change. At the same time, we have players who were not part of white-ball cricket and have worked only on red-ball cricket for the last few months. I think the transition will be easier than people expect,” he said.
