DHAKA: Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto said Tuesday the prospect of making the World Test Championship final inspires his team heading into a two-match series against the West Indies.

Currently fourth in the WTC standings, Bangladesh have six Tests remaining in the cycle including the West Indies opener in Mirpur starting Wednesday.

Former winners Australia lead the WTC table, followed by New Zealand and reigning champions South Africa in third place.

Bangladesh will need to win at least four and draw one of their six Tests to have a chance of making the final scheduled between June 9-13 at the Oval, and Shanto said there is no pressure.

“I find it inspiring rather than pressurising,” Shanto told reporters on the eve of the Mirpur Test. “We do not want to do anything extra. We want to follow our process and give 100 per cent to the things we know how to do.”

The hosts enter the Test series after failing to take the final seven wickets against Afghanistan in their most recent Test defeat in the United Arab Emirates.

HANDLE PRESSURE

Bangladesh have previously struggled to handle pressure on big occasions, but Najmul said the team has learned from their mistakes.

“We have a lot of conversations about it in the dressing room,” he said. “If you look at recent times, I would say that this problem has become less frequent. I am not saying we have completely overcome it, but it has reduced considerably.”

The West Indies will look to finish their WTC campaign strongly, despite the absence of in-form batter Shai Hope, who has been rested.

“He’s going to be a big miss for us having Shai Hope out, but he’s been playing a lot of cricket,” captain Roston Chase said.

The West Indies have won two, drawn one and lost one of their four Tests this year.

Chase said his team wants to build on that record and climb up the WTC standings from number eight position.

“This is the last series...if we want to make any strides in terms of going up the table, it has to be in this series,” he said.

“We’re in some good form coming into this series, so we want to take two wins and try to take ourselves up the ladder.” Chase expects a trial by spin at the Mirpur pitch.

The second and final Test will begin in Sylhet on November 5.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026