Bangladesh Test squad kicked off their preparations for the upcoming series against India on Sunday in Mirpur. Fast bowler Shoriful Islam noted that this series would present a tougher challenge than their recent tour of Pakistan.
However, Shoriful remained hopeful that the Tigers could draw on their confidence from the successful Pakistan series to tackle the Indian challenge.
Bangladesh made history by sweeping Pakistan in their recent two-match Test series, achieving their first-ever series win in the longer format against Pakistan. Shoriful mentioned that they aim to start against India with a win, and the confidence from their recent success would be beneficial.
India, being a more experienced and formidable team compared to Pakistan, presents a significant challenge. Shoriful pointed out that performing well against such a major team would increase their global recognition and viewership.
The pacers were instrumental in their victory over Pakistan, and Shoriful, who missed the second Test due to injury, spoke about the healthy competition among the fast bowlers in the Bangladesh team. He highlighted that there was a time when pacers were not frequently included, but now they are, and those not in the team remain prepared.
If a player is injured and misses a match or two, another steps up, ensuring there is no noticeable gap. Shoriful praised Taskin Ahmed for his performance after Shoriful's injury, noting that it was encouraging to see everyone performing well. He added that many bowlers are emerging and competing for spots, which is beneficial for Bangladesh.
Key players like Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, and Liton Das all played crucial roles in Bangladesh's Test series win in Pakistan. Shoriful believes that the experience within the team gave them confidence against Shan Masood's side. He recalled discussions among the team in Lahore, where they felt their experience gave them a better chance of winning despite playing away from home. Shakib Al Hasan frequently reminded them of their comparative experience.
Bangladesh is set to face India in the first Test of the two-match series on September 19 in Chennai.
