Najmul Hossain Shanto seems undeterred by off-field issues, saying, “I hope he will do something special in this series”

The Bangladesh men’s national cricket team is getting ready for a two-match Test series against Pakistan in the midst of all the political unrest in the country. Amidst the latest political turmoil, the prime minister resigned and the government was reorganised.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto stressed that his side is ready to play well on the pitch and is not concerned about the disruptions occurring off the pitch.

The Women’s T20 World Cup, which was originally supposed to be staged in the nation, has now been moved to the United Arab Emirates due to the political unrest that has severely affected the country. In spite of the uncertainties, the men’s cricket team is embarking on its first tour in two months, including two World Test Championship Test matches against Pakistan.

Following the fall of the government, Shakib Al Hasan‘s term as a Member of Parliament came to an end, marking one of the significant features of the political changes in Bangladesh. Shakib, one of the most valuable and seasoned players in Bangladesh, has opted to focus solely on the game and not discuss his political future.

“Shakib bhai is doing well in terms of preparation and practice. He wants to perform well. He has demonstrated his dedication during each practice session. He plays cricket professionally. To all of us, he is a cricket player. He’s played this game for so long that he understands his role and how to get ready. I am not considering a career in politics. At the press conference held prior to the game, Shanto expressed his expectation that he would do exceptionally well in this series.

We have no further goals in mind. Najmul Hossain Shanto

For the Bengal Tigers, Shakib’s all-around role is vital, and his expertise should prove to be a big advantage throughout the series. Mehidy Hasan Miraz is another important player who will probably add depth to the team’s batting lineup in addition to him. Shanto made a suggestion that pacer Nahid Rana might be included in the starting lineup.

“It’s possible that he [Rana] will play. He is in excellent physical condition. It appears that we will have our usual combination. We shall consider the Pacers’ extra advantage on this wicket when selecting our starting eleven. Shadman Islam is hitting.333 at the plate. He’s getting ready nicely. In Australia, he scored runs [recently against Pakistan A].

Shanto acknowledged the difficulties they have had with their batting but gave the team’s preparation and potential credit. “It’s true that we haven’t been hitting well the past several months, but we are not aiming to do anything more. Our last Test series [against Sri Lanka, in March-April] didn’t go well. That being stated, I believe we are ready for this Test series.

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The players have taken advantage of the chance to adequately prepare. They think we can perform better with the bat,” he said in closing.