Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed that the historic clean sweep against Pakistan would help ease some of the pain back home and hopefully bring back smiles.
When Najmul’s Test team flew to Pakistan for the two-match series, Bangladesh was grappling with political instability and turmoil. The situation was further worsened by recent floods, which had made life incredibly difficult for many. “I believe this victory will bring some joy to the people of our country. In the past few days, whether it’s the floods or the protests, people have endured many hardships,” Najmul said after their six-wicket win in the second Test on Tuesday (September 3).
“But the way we played, I think it will bring some smiles. We all know how passionate the people of our country are about cricket. They support us even when we lose. So, we tried our best to give something back to them.”
Greatest Moments in Bangladesh Cricket History
This series marked only the third time Bangladesh has won an away series, following victories in the West Indies in 2009 and Zimbabwe in 2021, making it both highly significant and emotional. Najmul Hossain Shanto described the victory as “one of the best moments” for Bangladesh cricket.
“This series win is very important,” Najmul said. “I think everyone struggled a lot over the past month and a half. But we all know how deeply emotional cricket is in our country. So, I hope this victory brings some smiles because we’ve won the series and the matches. We’re very happy to see our fans with smiles on their faces.”
“The emotion I felt after clinching the series is hard to express in words. Personally, I believe this achievement is one of the best moments for Bangladesh cricket.”
He also reflected on the performance of senior players, saying, “When Mushfiq bhai and Shakib bhai were batting, everyone in the dressing room wanted them to finish the match. They’ve been playing for Bangladesh for so long and have won many matches for us. But winning a match like this is special, and Alhamdulillah, everyone is really happy.”
Najmul Hossain Shanto credited his team’s
Najmul Hossain Shanto credited his team’s self-belief for their ability to stage comebacks from difficult positions in both Tests. In the first Test, they faced intense scoreboard pressure after Pakistan posted 448 runs. In the second Test, Bangladesh was struggling at 26 for 6 before Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz turned the game around.
“I believe that self-belief is crucial. Every single player believed that we could come back at any time. With Miraz batting at number eight, we knew we had depth in our batting lineup. We all believed that if anyone settled in, they could score big. So, it was vital that every player had faith that we could bounce back at any moment,” Najmul said.
“Even after losing six wickets, we still believed we could turn things around. Before going to bat, Miraz told us that he and Litton would get the job done for the team. They’ve led recoveries before, but this one was especially impressive.
“The belief they had, and the belief in the dressing room, felt very different this time. I won’t lie, we were really behind and a bit nervous at that moment, but the way Miraz and Litton batted, after 10-15 overs, we were in a good position and believed they could take us further,” he added, noting that their bowling unit also adapted to the conditions better than their opponents.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s positive mindset
Mehidy Hasan Miraz echoed his captain’s sentiments, highlighting the importance of self-belief within the team. He credited his positive mindset for his success in challenging conditions. The 26-year-old was named Player of the Series for his all-round contributions in both matches.
In the opening Test, Mehidy Hasan Miraz rescued the tourists with a crucial 77-run innings, forging a record 196-run partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim for the eighth wicket, which helped Bangladesh secure a first-innings lead. He later took four wickets in Pakistan’s second innings, setting up a 10-wicket victory.
In the second Test, Mehidy claimed a five-wicket haul in the first innings, helping bowl Pakistan out for 274. He then played a key role in Bangladesh’s recovery, putting on a 165-run partnership with centurion Litton Das after the team was reduced to 26 for 6.
“I was a bit nervous at that time [at 26 for 6]. I just talked with my partner, and he told me to stay calm and play positively,” Mehidy said. “We couldn’t control losing six wickets, but we could focus on getting some good balls and adding runs to the scoreboard. We believed we could come back.
“Playing as an all-rounder isn’t easy, especially on challenging surfaces like this. I always try to stay positive. I never let negative thoughts creep in because thinking negatively can affect your performance in such conditions. So, I just focus on maintaining my confidence,” he explained.
Key Points: Bangladesh’s pace revival and refreshed batting strategy
