The inaugural Test of the two-match series between hosts Bangladesh and the touring New Zealand is set to kick off on Tuesday at Sylhet International Stadium.
This series marks the commencement of the new cycle of the World Test Championship, serving as both Bangladesh's first match and first home encounter in this event.
Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead Bangladesh in this series in the absence of the regular captain Shakib Al Hasan, who was sidelined due to a finger injury sustained during the World Cup. This marks Shanto's debut as the Test captain, having previously led the team in ODIs in Shakib's absence during the World Cup.
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“I feel that I’m ready to lead Bangladesh in all formats,” Shanto expressed in Sylhet during the pre-match press conference. “It would be beneficial if the next captain is appointed for a longer period so that he can plan accordingly.”
In his inaugural Test as captain, Shanto aims for a victory and asserts that Bangladesh should plan to win all home matches in the new World Test Championship cycle.
“We will have to win the home matches of the WTC and try our best to fight harder in the away matches,” he emphasized.
In the previous WTC cycle (2021-2023), Bangladesh secured only one victory in 12 matches. Their last international event was the World Cup in India, where they fell short of expectations, winning only two out of nine matches. However, Shanto expresses hope for a comeback as they enter a new format.
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New Zealand, having played their last Test earlier this year, is eager to make a comeback to Test cricket. Tim Southee, the New Zealand captain, acknowledges the challenge of playing against Bangladesh in Bangladesh.
“The start of the new cycle is exciting. It is a tough place to play Tests. Bangladesh is strong in these conditions. The last cycle didn’t go as well as we planned,” Southee remarked.
Despite one historic Test win against New Zealand last year at Mount Maunganui by eight wickets, Bangladesh's overall Test record against New Zealand remains largely insignificant, with just one win in 17 Tests.
Southee hints that New Zealand aims to maintain its dominance in this series, relying on their spin arsenal.
“Pace plays a big role in New Zealand. Spin historically plays a big role in this part of the world. Our spinners have done some great things in Tests. We are looking forward to them showcasing their skills,” Southee said.
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Bangladesh will miss the services of Tamim Iqbal and Shakib in this series. Tamim has been out of cricket for an extended period, while Shakib is sidelined due to a finger injury. Bangladesh's captain acknowledges the absence of Shakib and also notes the absence of Litton Das, who is unavailable due to family reasons.
Southee, the New Zealand captain, acknowledges the significance of the absence of these key players for Bangladesh, stating, “Shakib has been a great player for Bangladesh for a long time. Litton is a class player. He has done well against us in the past. I guess it is a miss for them not having those guys.”