Shanto banks on away form to do well in Sri Lanka Tests

Dhaka, 12 June - Emboldened by their recent away form, Bangladesh  captain Najmul Hossain Shanto oozed with confidence to throw a stiff challenge to hosts Sri Lanka in the upcoming two-match Test series.

In fact, Shanto and co will kick start their new cycle of World Test 
Championship (WTC) with these two Tests.

In the last cycle that ran 2023-2025, Bangladesh won four matches, with three coming in away from home including a 2-0 whitewash against Pakistan. That was their best result in the WTC history and placed them in seventh position eventually. 

"We have shown gradual progress in WTC history. We did win just one match in 2021-2023 cycle but managed to secure four wins in the last cycle," Shanto said here today.

"We didn't do well at home Tests in the previous cycle and won just one match. It's right that we need to win more at home. But for a change, the away form gives us a massive confidence (ahead of Sri Lanka Tests)."

Shanto said they have plans up in the sleeve to improve their performance in the home Tests. According to him, it's only possible to improve their position in the standing also if they can do well both at home and away. 

"We have to do more specific planning at home. Playing well overseas gives us more confidence. If we can combine the both, we can have a better WTC cycle," he said, adding that the good memory in Sri Lanka also boosted them psychologically ahead of the series. 

 "We have some good memories in Sri Lanka. We won our 100th Test match there. 

That will definitely give us some confidence." Shanto said a positive result in Sri Lanka will also enhance their 

possibility to improve the standings. Indeed, Shanto eyed finishing fourth or fifth this time.

"We have an opportunity to do something special in their conditions. Last time, we finished seventh (in the WTC). So now the target is to be around 4th, 5th, or 6th," he said. 

"That would be really good. I think our win percentage in last cycle was around 45. If we can push that to 50, 55, or even 60 percent, as a captain I will consider that a strong result."

He laid emphasize on starting well in Sri Lanka.

 "We are a more confident unit after winning four Tests in the last WTC cycle. We need that extra confidence against Sri Lanka. If we can play to our full potential, we can start well in this cycle," he said.

"We have to do well in the first innings of the Test match. Everyone is working hard (on their batting), but we are not getting the results."

He further said: "They are working hard on coming back in form. More runs in the top-order will help us win more matches."

Shanto expresses his satisfaction with the squad he got for the Sri Lanka Tests.

"The squad covered all bases nicely. We have four pacers and four spinners and so we have the players to form our playing XI according to the condition."

The skipper is also happy with the return of fast bowler Ebadot Hossain, who came back into the team after an injury-forced absence of two years. 

"I think we have missed Ebadot for a long time. He got injured at the peak of his form at the time," he said,

"We fell into a hard time despite having other bowlers around. I am happy to see him coming back into the squad. It is an additional strength for the team."

Bangladesh will leave the country for Colombo tomorrow (Friday). Beforehand, they had a two-day practice session and played a two-day match amongst them for preparing them.

The practice session and match suggested that Shanto may open the inning sin Sri Lanka tests.

"I am prepared to bat in any position. We have other top-order batters so we have options," Shanto said.BSS