Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto believes the historic 2-0 series win against hosts Pakistan will motivate the unit when they travel to India later this month.
Bangladesh Tuesday registered a memorable six-wicket win in Rawalpindi in the second and final Test match to record a momentous series whitewash against Pakistan.
The series is part of the World Test Championship.
An overseas Test victory – let alone a series win – is a rare event in Bangladesh cricket.
This was only their fourth Test win in seven years on foreign soil and just the third-ever overseas Test series victory.
Bangladesh on tour of India will first play a two-match Test series that’s part of the WTC, starting on September 19 in Chennai.
In the second phase of the tour, the Tigers will play three Twenty20 internationals against their neighbors.
“Very happy [with the team performance]. I think everyone chipped in in this series; it’s totally a team game. Especially I mentioned those who are not getting a chance to play, those four guys. Doing a lot of hard work in the field is also very important. We always talk about those who score runs or take wickets. But the way those four guys are not playing is helping the team. It’s very, very impressive,” said skipper Shanto at the post-match presentation Tuesday.
“That’s how we will get the result, and I hope this culture will continue going forward. (Post match celebration) It depends on the manager, but we have to travel as well, but I think we have to celebrate this moment,” the left-handed batter added.
Bangladesh had a poor start with the bat in their first innings of the second Test.
The visiting side were reeling on 26 for six before Liton Das and Mehedi Hasan Miraz come to the rescue.
Later, the Bangladesh pace unit comprising the likes of Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed emerged as heroes, garnering all 10 Pakistan wickets to keep the chase in control to a gettable 185 runs.
Bangladesh on the final day needed 143 more with 10 wickets in hand and reached the shore just ahead of the tea break.
“[Bowling unit] has been very impressive. I think the most important thing is their work ethic. I think the way they did their work in the recent past, that’s why they got the result. And then everyone was honest with themselves, and they wanted to win. So that is important for our team, and I hope that will continue,” said Shanto.
“The way Shadman [Islam] batted, especially the first Test 93-run inning, it was excellent. And in this innings, the way Zakir [Hasan] approached the first six, seven overs, I think the momentum came to us, and that’s what we want from the both of them.
“The next series is very important, and this series gives us a lot of confidence. And as you mentioned Mushi (Mushfiqur Rahim) bhai, Shakib (al Hasan) bhai, Liton, and Mominul (Haque), they’re all experienced playing a lot of cricket, and they show their experience, and I hope they will do better than this in the India series.”
