Najmul Hossain Shanto says WTC top-four spot is inspiring rather than pressure
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto views the team's WTC standing as motivation ahead of the two-Test series against West Indies. Mushfiqur Rahim was ruled out with a hand injury.
Najmul Hossain Shanto said Bangladesh's fourth-place position in the World Test Championship table is a source of motivation rather than stress. Bangladesh began the first Test against West Indies in Mirpur on Wednesday needing points to stay in contention for a final berth.
Shanto won the toss and chose to bat after Mushfiqur Rahim was ruled out with a hand injury. Bangladesh reached 96 for two at lunch, with Shadman Islam unbeaten on 50. Liton Das stepped in behind the stumps, and the hosts added off-spinner Nayeem Hasan to strengthen their spin attack.
West Indies handed a Test debut to off-spinner Joshua Bishop. The visitors replaced injured Anrich Nortje with Gerald Coetzee in their previous outing but named an unchanged side for this series.
CricHubb Take
Bangladesh's need for four wins from six remaining Tests to reach their first WTC final makes this series a genuine elimination round, not a routine home assignment.