Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed on Friday that he believes Australia is not taking his team lightly in the upcoming two-match Test series, which begins in Darwin on August 13. The fact that Australia has named a full-strength squad for the tour is something the Bangladesh skipper described as an achievement for his team. Speaking at the Notun Kuri final ceremony at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Shanto remarked that he has never seen such a strong commitment from an opponent before, noting that teams usually experiment when playing against Bangladesh.
The Australian squad features a formidable pace attack consisting of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland, alongside veteran spinner Nathan Lyon. The batting lineup is anchored by Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Travis Head, with all-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster adding significant depth. Shanto emphasized that because the opposition has brought such a high-caliber team, it provides a major opportunity for Bangladesh to test their capabilities, proving that the team has built a strong position in Test cricket.
Despite the excitement, Bangladesh faces several injury concerns. In-form wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das is yet to recover from a calf injury sustained in June. After traveling to Singapore for a scan on Sunday, Litton posted on his official Facebook page on July 24, stating, "Yet to heal, but staying positive. Grateful for the medical care and attention in Singapore though. Keep me in your prayers." Additionally, 23-year-old pace sensation Nahid Rana, who starred in Bangladesh's recent ODI success against Zimbabwe, suffered a side strain during the second T20I against Zimbabwe earlier this month and is running out of time to recover for the tour. Left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam also sustained a hamstring injury during the Zimbabwe series, though sources indicate he is likely to recover in time to be available for the second and final Test.
Regarding the management of player workloads and injuries, Shanto noted that those decisions, including judging players' workload management, are actually taken by the physio, the trainer, and the management group. Meanwhile, pacer Ebadot Hossain has opted out of the Australia series to be with his wife and newborn baby, though it is understood he could cut short his leave and return if the team is left short of fast bowlers due to injuries. The series is scheduled to begin with the opening Test in Darwin from August 13-17, followed by the second and final Test in Mackay from August 22-26.
