Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto played it cool in front of the media before the highly anticipated Australia tour, saying their main goal in the two-Test series will be to earn the Aussies’ respect.
After 23 years, Bangladesh are weeks away from a Test in Australia soil.
The Bangladesh contingent will leave in group with the first one set board an Australia-bound flight on Friday.
Before departure, the Test skipper faced the media at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday, looking composed before a highly awaited tour.
“I feel very lucky that we are getting to play Tests against Australia in Australia. I feel that we should have played more matches in the last 23 years,” Shanto said.
“Our main goal, as our selector said, will be to play good cricket over there and earn their respect. I feel if we can play competitive cricket, they would definitely invite us over in the future.
“Of course, we play every match to win, and that will of course be the main goal. But how much good cricket we can play and how tough a fight we can give them will be important. If we can play two matches like that, then of course, in the future we may get more opportunities to play Tests [in Australia],” he added.
Australia have named a full-strength Test squad for the series, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship.
By comparison, Bangladesh will travel with a weakened squad, with speedster Nahid Rana ruled out due to injury, wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das and left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam set to miss the opening Test in Darwin, set to begin on August 13.
The innings defeat to Zimbabwe in Harare in June further raises doubts about how well Bangladesh can do in Australia.
But Shanto remained adamant in his side’s chances, hoping the new inclusions will step up and make a mark.
“I don’t like hearing that we are an ‘injury-hit side’. Injuries can happen. Nahid Rana, Shoriful [Islam], and Litton [Das] are, of course, very important cricketers. But the players alongside them have also been around for many years.
“I would say it’s a big opportunity to those who have come in in their places, to show how well they can do. When these players do well, it will benefit the Bangladesh team.
“As a captain, it would be foolish of me to think I would always get my best players. I have full faith in those who are on my team, and who will get the opportunity to play. If they play their best game, it’s possible for the Bangladesh team to do well.”