Habibul Bashar says Bangladesh are in a strong WTC position after drawing the Australia series 1-1, but warns the team still has work to do.
DHAKA: Bangladesh selection chief Habibul Bashar believes the team has put itself in a strong position to challenge for a place in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final for the first time after drawing their two-match Test series against Australia 1-1.
Bangladesh returned home on Monday and currently sit fourth in the WTC standings, with six matches remaining in the championship cycle.
The team’s next assignment will be at home against the West Indies later this year, with the sides scheduled to play a two-Test series.
Bashar believes Bangladesh have an opportunity to push for a top-two finish and secure a place in next year’s WTC Final.
“We are now in a very good position in the World Test Championship,” Bashar said.
“We have five very important Tests coming up, so let’s see what happens.”
Bangladesh encouraged by recent Test form
Bashar highlighted Bangladesh’s recent performances as evidence of the progress made by the Test side.
The team completed a 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan earlier in the year before producing a major upset by defeating Australia in the opening Test of their recent series.
“It’s not just the Australia Tests. If you look at our previous Test matches against Pakistan, or the Tests before that, we have been winning Tests regularly,” Bashar said.
He also pointed to Bangladesh’s recent record compared with their performances since the start of the century.
“If you look at the statistics since 2000 and compare them with those of the last two years, you have to say that Bangladesh Test cricket has come a long way,” he said.
Bashar warns Bangladesh still have work to do
Despite the encouraging results, Bashar was reluctant to declare Bangladesh among the leading Test teams in the world.
“I don’t think I can say right now that, as a Test team, we have become a very good side. I think we still have a long way to go,” he said.
However, he believes the team has established itself and earned greater respect through its recent performances.
“But we have managed to make a statement of our own,” Bashar added.
The selection chief said gaining respect in Australia had been one of Bangladesh’s objectives before the tour and believes the team achieved that goal.
“What Bangladesh are taking back from Australia is something we spoke about before coming here: when we return home, we want to take back a certain level of respect. I think we are able to return home with that respect,” he said.
Bangladesh-Australia Test series results
The two-match series ended level at 1-1.
• First Test: Bangladesh won by nine wickets.
• Second Test: Australia won by an innings and 51 runs.
With the WTC race entering a decisive phase, Bangladesh will now look to build on its recent form and strengthen its position in the standings during the remaining matches of the championship cycle.