NEWS
Follow UsAfter registering a historic Test series whitewash over Pakistan, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto said “this win will bring joy to the people” of Bangladesh who have gone through a lot in the last three months.
Bangladesh endured weeks of student-led protests, which resulted in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaving the country, ending 15 years of autocratic rule. The recent floods in the country have made things even worse.
"I think this win will bring joy to the people of the country because, in past few days... say flood or the protest, people have gone through many difficulties," Cricbuzz quoted Shanto as saying after Bangladesh won the second Test by six wickets on September 3 (Tuesday).
"But the way we played the match, I think this will bring a bit of laughter on the people's faces. And all of us know that to what extent the general people of our country are crazy about cricket. Everyone supports us even if we lose matches. So we tried that how we can give something to the people of our country."
This is Bangladesh’s only second overseas Test series win in a series involving two games or more. Their last overseas series win (2+ matches) came back in 2009 in West Indies, where they beat the Men in Maroon 2-0. In 2021, they won a one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Harare.
"Very important [the series win]. I think everyone struggled a lot in last one and a half months. But we all know that cricket is a very emotional thing in our country. So, I hope they will somewhat smile because we won the series and won the matches. And we are very happy that our crowd has got some happiness in their faces.
"The emotion I felt [after clinching the series] is hard to put into words. Because this achievement, I personally feel, is one of the best moments for Bangladesh cricket.
"And when Mushfiq [Mushfiqur Rahman] bhai and Shakib [Al Hasan] bhai were batting, all of us from the dressing room were wanting that these two should finish the match. They have been playing for Bangladesh for so long, they have won many matches for us. But it's special to win a match like this, and all of us were wanting that and Alhamdulillah everyone is really happy.”
Bangladesh were under pressure in both Tests. In the opening Test, Pakistan declared on 448/6 but Bangladesh responded with 565 in the first innings. They went on to win the game by 10 wickets. Then in the second Test, Pakistan reduced Bangladesh to 26/6 before Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz put on 165 runs for the seventh wicket.
"I think the belief is very important. I think every single player believed that we can come back any time, because as you know Miraz came and batted at number eight. So, the batting depth we had, we all believed that if anyone gets set they can make a big score. So, it was very important that every single player believed that we can comeback any time," he said.
"After losing six wickets, as I mentioned before, we still believed because he (Miraz) mentioned one thing before he went to bat: that he and Litton will do the job for the team and those guys (have led recoveries) before as well but this was impressive.
"And as I mentioned the belief they had and was there in the dressing room, it's been very, very different this time and I won't lie, we were really behind and we were a little bit nervous at that time but the way Miraz and Litton batted at that moment I think after 10/15 overs we were in a good position and we believed that these guys will take us to a good position."
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