Bangladesh Captain Shanto Targets Top-Five Finish in World Test Championship
Speaking ahead of a two-match Test series against Pakistan beginning Friday in Mirpur, Shanto outlined the team's goal to improve upon its seventh-place finish in the previous cycle.
Bangladesh cricket captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said Thursday that the national team aims to finish in the top five of the current ICC World Test Championship cycle.
Speaking ahead of a two-match Test series against Pakistan beginning Friday in Mirpur, Shanto outlined the team's goal to improve upon its seventh-place finish in the previous cycle. Bangladesh currently holds one draw and one loss in the present championship period.
"If we can perform a bit better and finish around fourth or fifth, it would be very satisfying," Shanto said. He noted that the team has gradually improved its standing, having finished ninth in the tournament's first two iterations before securing four wins in the last cycle.
The captain acknowledged upcoming challenges, including away tours to Australia and South Africa later this year. To counter these, Shanto said the team will focus on maximizing home advantage through customized pitch preparations and relying on a balanced squad of pace bowlers, spinners, and batters.
Bangladesh previously defeated Pakistan 2-0 in an away series in 2024. While Shanto said the past result provides confidence, he emphasized the need for consistent performance in the upcoming matches. Despite some squad members recently focusing on limited-overs formats, he expressed satisfaction with the team's red-ball training preparations.