Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, recently, spoke about using the team’s high morals and immense confidence for better results on the India tour.
Bangladesh conjured their 24-year-long upset in red-ball history against Pakistan. This was their third away Test series win in the history of Bangladesh cricket. Shanto said that this thumping win over the neighboring archrivals is what has largely added to the spirits and belief of the Bangladesh team.
“One word: belief. It feels great when you are winning. It is important to enjoy these moments. I think such a moment has never come in the Bangladesh team’s history. Cricketers look for references. Now we have one. We know that we have the ability to win abroad,” Shanto told ESPNCricinfo.
No one believed a result of that kind could happen, as Bangladesh first defeated Pakistan on their home soil and later claimed a clean sweep over the hosts in the 2-match series. Their marquee player, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, emerged as the Player of the Series after his double dominance with both bat and ball.
“The next time we play, I don’t know about the result, but we will surely have the belief that we can win. I said the same thing in the press conference on the first day [when asked about Bangladesh’s dismal record in Pakistan] that records are meant to be broken. It was from my belief after seeing how hard the players worked,” Shanto said.
Bangladesh’s Tour of India begins on 19th September
Bangladesh will tour India, their neighboring nation, for a 2-match red ball series, which will be followed by a three-match T20I series as well. India is also toiling hard to prepare for the first test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Though Bangladesh has never had a great record against India in the tournament, the last time these two teams met in the second test in Dhaka, the Bengal Tigers were inching close to a stunning victory.
While chasing a minor total of 145, the Indian team struggled for 74/7. Ravi Ashwin then came in at no. 9 and with Shreyas Iyer, batted for a 71-run 9th wicket partnership, which rescued India, and Bangladesh missed the win by a whisker.
This time around as well, the two red ball matches to be played at Chennai and Kanpur will be of immense importance to the visitors as well as the hosts, who look to take early advantage for the WTC final with wins in the series.
Litton Das, another of their marquee batters, also takes charge, alongside the next generation of quality fast bowlers Bangladesh have produced.
