Bangladesh national cricket team captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto was very happy that the Australian national cricket team will play with full strength in the upcoming two-match Test series. This series is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto believes this is a sign that Australia is taking Bangladesh seriously, calling it a proud moment for Bangladesh cricket. Bangladesh is all set to play a Test in Australia after 23 years and before that they will play a three-day practice match against Cricket Australia XI from August 6.
Darwin’s Marrara Cricket Ground will host the first Test between Bangladesh and Australia from August 13, while the second and final Test will be played at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay from August 22. Both teams will aim to make this historic series memorable.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto welcomes big challenge from Australia ahead of historic Test series
Ahead of the challenging tour, Nazmul Hossain Shanto said that Bangladesh have rarely seen top teams facing them with their strongest team.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto believes that Australia picking a full-strength team is a proud moment for Bangladesh as it shows that they are considering the series as no easy task.
The Bangladesh captain believes this is the perfect opportunity for his team to test themselves against one of the strongest Test teams in the world and prove how much they have improved in red-ball cricket. Earlier, with Pat Cummins returning as captain, Australia announced a 13-man squad for the Bangladesh Test.
I have never seen anything like this before: Nazmul Hussain Shanto
“Normally, I have never seen anything like this before in Bangladesh cricket. When teams play against us, there is usually a lot of experimentation. I would say this is an achievement for our team,” Nazmul Hossain Shanto said during the Notun Kuri final ceremony at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
The captain further added, “Because they have brought such a team, it is a huge opportunity for us to see how good cricket we can play against them. I would say that we have already managed to create a good situation with this Test team. Because if you look at the opposition, it is clear that they have not taken this series lightly.”
Liton Das started troubling Bangladesh before Australia Test, worried about Nahid Rana’s injury
However, the Bangladesh team has many injury concerns before the Australia Test series. Star wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das is still recovering from a calf injury he suffered in June. He recently traveled to Singapore for medical treatment and shared an update on social media.
Liton posted on X: “Not recovered yet, but remaining positive. However, grateful for the medical care and attention in Singapore. Keep me in your prayers.”
Young fast bowler Nahid Rana is also doubtful to play due to a side strain during the recent T20 series in Zimbabwe. On the other hand, left-arm fast bowler Shoriful Islam also suffered a hamstring injury on the same tour, but it is expected that he will recover by the second Test.
Not only this, the Tigers will be without their experienced fast bowler Ebadot Hossain in the upcoming Test series in Australia, as he has taken leave to be with his wife and newborn child.