Bangladesh Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto Sends Clear WTC Message Ahead Of Crucial West Indies Tests

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto wants his side to focus on the upcoming Test series against the West Indies, which begins on Wednesday, rather than think about a potential place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Currently fourth in the 2025-27 WTC standings, Bangladesh need to win at least four of their remaining six matches and draw one to keep their hopes of reaching the final for the first time alive. The team have played six matches in the current cycle, winning three, losing two and drawing one. Those victories include a 2-0 series sweep over Pakistan and a historic win in Australia.

After the West Indies series, Bangladesh will travel to South Africa for a two-Test series before hosting England for two Tests.

"As I always say, if we can achieve the smaller targets, we'll achieve the bigger target. So the immediate focus is on the series against the West Indies," Shanto said.

"We have to maintain the process and play as a unit like we did in the other series."

Bangladesh lost a Test to Zimbabwe and drew against Afghanistan earlier this year, although neither match was part of the World Test Championship and both were played in the UAE.

"We should have won the Test against Afghanistan, but we didn't play good cricket in the last two days," Shanto said.

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons believes the prospect of reaching the WTC final will keep his players fully motivated.

"I think everyone is very focused on the Test match," Simmons said.

"I think there's that goal and that desire to play in the World Test Championship final, and this is the first time we've had that opportunity to be there."

Bangladesh and the West Indies have contested 11 Test series, with Bangladesh winning twice, in 2009 and 2018. The West Indies have won eight series, while one ended in a draw.

In the 22 Tests played between the two sides, Bangladesh have won five and lost 15.

The West Indies won the most recent Test series between the teams, sweeping the two-match contest in Bangladesh in 2021.

The Caribbean side are eighth in the WTC standings, and this series marks their final assignment of the current cycle.

The West Indies are yet to lose a Test series this year and recently put up competitive performances in ODIs and T20Is against India.

Head coach Darren Sammy believes those displays will inspire his players against Bangladesh.

"We obviously know Bangladesh have been playing some good cricket, but we've been playing some good cricket as well this year," Sammy said.

"When we started the World Test Championship cycle, we knew where we wanted to be, and we're right where we wanted to be."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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