Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto brimmed with confidence to do something very special in two-match Test series against Pakistan despite a pretty ordinary record in longer version format.
While Bangladesh won just 19 in 142 Tests, they have never won a Test against Pakistan in 13 encounters. Their only success is to draw a Test against Pakistan on home soil in 2015.
But Shanto looked unfazed by the poor track record, saying that record is created to be broken.
"I think it's (Pakistan 12-0 Bangladesh) just a record and record can be changed. I know the task at hands is not easier one, but as I said earlier that we have got a balanced team. We believe we can do something very special in this tour. Cricketers are excited to play here," Shanto told the reporters in Rawalpindi today.
Sans the Sri Lanka Test series in March, Bangladesh fared fairly well in Test cricket in the last two years, despite their batters failed to come up with terms on most of the occasions. While they lost all two Tests against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh earlier drew a two-match Test series against mighty New Zealand and beat teams like Afghanistan and Irelan in one-off Test match.
Shanto knew the familiar batting collapse won't help them against Pakistan, which are almost invincible on home soil. And Bangladesh felt the wrath by tasting an innings margin defeat when they toured Pakistan last time.
"Everyone knows that our batting hasn't been up to the mark for a long time. In the last Test series (against Sri Lanka), the batting sank us. But our preparation was good. With the time that we got, we tried our best to get us prepared," he said.
"Everyone in the dressing room believes that we'll do good as a batting unit this time. To win the Test, at the same time, the bowling is important. We have a good bowling attack. I think as a team, we have the golden chance this time around."
Shanto said senior cricket Mushfiqur Rahim who sustained a finger injury recovered well and will be available for first Test. But he said inform opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy has some discomfort.
"Most of the cricketers are fit at this moment. Mushfiqur Rahim is available for the first Test but Joy has some discomfort."
While Pakistan had already announced their first XI, Shanto said they will see the wicket first before declaring the first XI.
"Our pace attack has been in superb form and we have some world class spinners. So we have covered all bases. We'll form our first XI after seeing the wicket. But as far as I am concerned, the pacers get some help from this wicket. Therefore, our pacers are excited to bowl here."
