Shanto urges Bangladesh to become tough at home as Pakistan arrive for two tests
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto wants Bangladesh to become tougher to beat at home in test cricket. On the eve of two home tests against Pakistan starting on Friday, Shanto also hopes they can continue their incremental progress, their batters rising to the bowlers' high standards. Bangladesh has only one win at home in the World Test Championship since it launched in 2019.
MIRPUR, Bangladesh (AP) — Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto wants Bangladesh to become tougher to beat at home in test cricket. On the eve of two home tests against Pakistan starting on Friday, Shanto also hopes they can continue their incremental progress, their batters rising to the bowlers' high standards. Bangladesh has only one win at home in the World Test Championship since it launched in 2019.
Bangladesh was ninth and last and winless in the inaugural 2019-21 cycle. It was ninth again with one win in 2021-23. Then Bangladesh rose to seventh place in 2023-25 with four wins, an historic two in Pakistan and one in the West Indies.
Bangladesh started the latest WTC cycle in Sri Lanka, a 1-0 series loss last June, and has the West Indies and England coming after the home tests with Pakistan in Mirpur and Sylhet. Shanto wants his team to take more advantage of their home conditions. “As a captain I want my side to win more matches at home in this cycle," he said on Thursday.
“If we can do well here and win some matches overseas the performance graph in this cycle will improve. ” He regarded a big first innings batting total as a major step to victory. In the last WTC cycle, Bangladesh passed 300 only once in six home tests and won that test against New Zealand by 150 runs for its only home success.