Bangladesh skipper on his team’s approach vs India as they set their sights on another big scalp after their Pakistan heroics.
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Shanto has laid out his team’s approach as they prepare to face India on Thursday.
After their 2-0 victory over Pakistan, Shanto says they are optimistic heading into the first Test against India in Chennai. Following three Twenty20 Internationals, the two-match Test series against India begins on Thursday.
“It will be a challenging series but we have the extra confidence from the Pakistan series.” Shanto said in the pre-departure press conference in Dhaka. Pakistan series,” Shanto said in the pre-departure press conference in Dhaka. “I guess the whole country has that confidence now. Every series is an opportunity. We want to win both Tests, but we have to stick to our process. If we do our job, we can get a good result.
“They are well ahead of us in the rankings. But we did play well recently. We want to play well for five days, that’s our goal. We want to get the result in the last session of the Test match. At that time, the match can go in any direction. It is an opportunity [to get our first win in India]. We will play with a win in mind. But we don’t want to think too far ahead. We want to do well for five days, and play to our strength. That’s most important.”
In Pakistan, Bangladesh played a brilliant brand of cricket. In the first Test, their bowlers and hitters united to defeat the host team by ten wickets. Then, in the second innings, they stunned Pakistan by a score of six wickets. Shanto is aware that Bangladesh’s pace attack lacks the expertise of India’s, but their recent achievements will give them hope.
“We are in a good place with our bowling attack, both spin and pace,” he said. “Perhaps our pacers are behind them in terms of experience but our spin attack is close to theirs. They can bowl in any conditions. All I can say is that our pacers, spinners and batters will give 100%.
“I think we can make a difference only if we play as a team. It is not just the spinners but the pacers and the batters also. The whole team has to play together.”