‘We are looking for more of a team performance’

Bangladesh Test captain Shakib Al Hasan said that the Tigers were up for the challenge but felt that it would be important to bat well in the first innings when they take on the West Indies in the first Test of the two-match series in Antigua.

The Tigers had a horrible outing on their last tour of the Caribbean in 2018, when Bangladesh were bundled out for their lowest total of 43 runs at the same venue. But according to Shakib, the pitch in Antigua is a lot different from the last time.

"The squad is very excited and everyone is looking forward to tomorrow's match. I think it's a completely different wicket. It's completely different to what it was four years ago. It looked a better wicket to me and I think it will be good for batting. I think batting will be harder in the fourth innings when spinners will come into play," Shakib, who will begin his third stint as Test captain, told the media on Wednesday.

"But it will be important how well we bat in our first innings. Batting first or bowling first won't make any difference as long as you do it well. We have to prepare for everything and I think the boys are up for the challenge."

There was a spotlight on Shakib as an individual and how he would handle the team, but the champion cricketer said it was all about how the team performs and believed it was a great opportunity to prove everyone wrong.

"I am in a good position but I am not too worried about form because I had a good game against Sri Lanka in the last series. I am not too worried about my individual performance. We are looking for more of a team performance. We haven't played well in the Test format recently but this is a chance to prove everyone wrong by doing well in this Test match and taking it from there. If we can do well in this Test match, I think it will be a very good starting point for this series," he said.

Left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman will be returning to Test cricket after a while and when asked if the left-arm seamer should continue featuring in all three formats, Shakib said the decision was up to the individual. He also believed that Mustafizur would be motivated to give his best after being included in the Test side.

Shakib pointed out that the Tigers would start to get the results in the next one-and-a-half to two years and that there were a few new faces getting opportunities, which could create a pool of players for all three formats.

"We have played a lot of cricket across the formats and guys are getting injured. At the same time, that births opportunities for newer guys to play games. So we might get results in two years when we see [a pool of] 25 to 30 players to pick across formats.

"It will be a very good thing for Bangladesh cricket. At this moment, it seems like we are playing so much cricket but not with a big number of players. But within a year and a half, a lot of players will come up because of injuries and that it will help us. If they start performing, then there will be a healthy competition," Shakib added.