Dhaka: Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto backed his bowling line up to take the 20 wickets of Australia in a Test match despite the bowling attack being severely weakened by injuries. Shanto's side will tour Australia without pacer Nahid Rana, left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam and wicket-keeper batter Liton Das, all ruled out with injuries.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Shanto expressed confidence in his pace bowlers and their ability to meet expectations in Australia. "In Australia, our expectation will definitely be that the pace bowlers take 20 wickets. We also have two experienced spinners who will support them," Shanto said. He emphasized the capabilities of his squad, noting that apart from Musfik Hasan, the players have substantial international experience and are capable of achieving the desired results.
The captain acknowledged that injuries were beyond the team's control but maintained that the selected squad possessed the necessary skills to deliver a strong performance. "Injuries are actually beyond our control. Any player can get injured at any time. But I have the belief on my side which is going to Australia. I believe that they can play good cricket," Shanto stated.
Shanto highlighted the significance of the injured players but also saw their absence as a chance for others to prove themselves. "Nahid Rana, Shoriful and Liton Das are definitely important players. But those who are in the squad have also been playing for many years. This is a big opportunity for those who get the chance to perform," he remarked.
Despite not having toured Australia for over two decades, Shanto stressed the importance of quickly adapting to local conditions for success. "It is difficult to judge the conditions from here. We will understand them only after we arrive. Whatever the conditions are, as professional cricketers we have to cope with it," he added.