Australia Are No Longer Taking Bangladesh Lightly, Says Shanto

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto believes Australia are no longer viewing Bangladesh as an easy opponent ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series on Australian soil. With the hosts naming a full-strength squad for the series, Shanto sees it as a sign of the progress Bangladesh have made in Test cricket.

Speaking to the media after the final of the Notun Kuri Cricket Tournament on Friday, Shanto said that in the past Australia often experimented with their squad when playing against Bangladesh. However, he believes the situation has now changed, calling it a significant achievement for Bangladesh cricket.

Shanto said, “Generally, I have never seen this happen before in Bangladesh cricket. Usually, when teams play against us, they tend to do a lot of experimentation. But I would say this is an achievement.”

The Bangladesh skipper also described the upcoming series as a major opportunity for his team to prove themselves against one of the strongest sides in world cricket. He believes Bangladesh have established themselves as a competitive Test side, which is reflected in Australia’s approach to the series.

Shanto said, “This is a huge opportunity for our team to show how well we can play against a side like Australia. I would say that this Test team has already built a strong position for itself. If you look at the opposition squad, it is clear that they are not taking this series lightly.”