Bangladesh sit fourth in the WTC standings and have an outside chance of finishing in the top two. Shanto said the team is focused on the opening Test right now. Speaking before the match, Shanto said Bangladesh have progressed by setting small targets and concentrating on each game. He believes this approach has helped the team improve.
Shanto wants Bangladesh to trust their process
Shanto described the top-four position as inspiring. He said the team does not need extraordinary changes because its established preparation and playing process have delivered positive results. The captain stressed that the series is important, but players must stick to their plans and continue the methods that have supported their progress in the longer format.
Bangladesh’s historic Test victory against Australia in Darwin in August boosted the team’s confidence. Shanto said the win strengthened the players’ belief, although he had noticed their desire to improve before that result. He added that players are increasingly eager to play Test cricket. Supporters’ interest has also encouraged the team.
Injury concerns ahead of the West Indies tests
Bangladesh faced fitness concerns before the opening Test. Mushfiqur Rahim took a blow to his hand during practice on Tuesday and received ice treatment after leaving the nets. Shanto said he had not heard that Mushfiqur would miss the match. However, the team needed to monitor the injury and check whether the pain increased.
Litton Das was another concern after suffering a right hip-joint injury during his century against Afghanistan. Shanto said Litton had completed fitness work, but the team awaited a medical report. Shanto remained hopeful that Litton would be available if his condition allowed him to play.
Coaching change not expected to disrupt Bangladesh
Bangladesh replaced batting coach Mohammad Ashraful with High Performance Unit head coach Mohammad Salahuddin on an interim basis for the West Indies home series. Shanto played down concerns about the change. He noted that players already knew Salahuddin from previous work and expected the transition to be manageable. For Bangladesh, the priority is the first Test. Shanto wants the team to maintain focus, build on recent progress and treat its WTC standing as motivation rather than pressure.
Saim Ayub Released from ODI Squad for Remainder of Tri-Series.
