Ready to face any challenge, says Bangladesh captain

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s fiery pace attack is ready to make an impact on what looks like a green top at the Pindi Stadium for the opening match of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 against Bangladesh starting from today (Wednesday).

Eager to improve their Test Championship rankings, Pakistan are keen to sweep the series to earn crucial points. Though the toss holds immense importance considering the nature of the surface, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was confident to face every challenge posed by the hosts in a bravest of manners.

“There is no doubt that the toss will hold importance but we are professional cricketers, ready to face any challenge coming our way. Pakistan have a good pace battery going into the series but we are not far away. We have covered all the bases and are well equipped to take the battle back to Pakistan,” Shanto said.

Pindi Stadium will host both Test matches of the series which will also serve as start of new season for the host country. The second Test will be played at the same venue from August 30 to September 3. Pakistan are currently ranked sixth in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. They have played two away series in the championship, winning 2-0 against Sri Lanka and losing 3-0 to Australia.

“We have a good opportunity to make our mark against Pakistan as we are going with the best combination with Mushfiq is also fit. Joy is making improvement. His injury will be reassessed Wednesday morning,” Shanto said.

On his team’s poor run against Pakistan in Test cricket where they have lost 12 out of 13 Test matches, Bangladesh captain said the coming series will be a fresh challenge and a new occasion.

“Records do not stay for a long. What we are looking at is to make best efforts to take the fight back to Pakistan. We have enough resources at our disposal to make our mark.”

Besides posing a formidable challenge for the visiting team, the greenish pitch at the Pindi Stadium will also be a stern test for the fragile home team’s batting lineup. After getting whitewashed in Australia in the last Test series, Pakistan batting line-up now faces a tough task of making an impact on a pitch, which in all probabilities will also favour Bangladesh seamers.

The first Test against Bangladesh marks Pakistan red-ball Head Coach Jason Gillespie’s first international assignment since his appointment in April this year. It will also be Shan Masood’s first Test as captain on home soil, embarking a new era in red-ball cricket for the team.