Tigers in ‘mindset of getting big scores’ ahead of Pak Tests, says Simmons

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons on Wednesday said the Tigers are in a mindset to post “big scores”, stressing that he is more focused on the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan, starting in Mirpur on Friday, rather than the past.

Bangladesh have enjoyed a strong run against Pakistan in recent times. In their last meeting in the format in 2024, the Tigers secured a 2-0 series win in Rawalpindi -- their maiden Test series triumph over the side. They also won their last T20I and ODI series against Pakistan by identical margins at home, giving them the edge in recent head-to-head records.

“That is history now. We want to make new history. It doesn’t matter what happened then. Yes, you keep it in your mind because it gives you a boost, but it is a new game and a new place. We are in Bangladesh now, not Pakistan. We have to put those things behind us and focus on Friday,” Simmons told reporters at a press conference in Mirpur.

Simmons also expects a good batting surface in Mirpur as Bangladesh return to red-ball cricket after nearly six months. Their last outing in the format came in November 2025, when they beat Ireland 2-0 at home -- a series that marked Mushfiqur Rahim’s 100th Test, making him the first Bangladeshi to reach the milestone.

“I do not know what you mean by ‘home conditions.’ It is going to be a good cricket pitch, and we have to think about how we bat against them. You want to be higher in the rankings, so you have to perform against top-class bowlers. We know as a unit that we have to bat long against them to try and get big scores. Everybody is in the mindset of getting big scores, which is a good thing,” he said.

“It is more of a mental shift, but at the same time, quite a few players here have not been involved in white-ball cricket recently. They have been working with the red ball for the last couple of months, so I think it will be an easier transition than you might expect,” he added.

Simmons believes both sides are evenly matched heading into the series, highlighting the strength of their bowling attacks while also praising pacer Nahid Rana’s development.

“I do not think one team is in better shape. We have two good fast-bowling units and two good spinning units. It will come down to who takes control of the key moments in the Test match.

“The best thing about Nahid Rana is his understanding of where he is and what he needs to do. For someone just coming into the game, he is highly intelligent. We have to monitor him to ensure we do not overwork him. We have a strong pace unit, and since he leads in terms of speed, we have to look after him,” he added.