Bangladesh coach issues World Test Championship challenge
Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons wants his players to step up as an important World Test Championship series against the West Indies looms.
Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons wants his side's batters to look at the possible absence of key players as an opportunity to come into the playing XI and perform.
Experienced right-hander Litton Das - who is yet to regain full-fitness after a hip joint concern - is battling to be fit for the first Test with the Caribbean side that commences on 28 October.
The injury has already ruled Litton out of Bangladesh's ongoing ODI tri-series in the UAE, and the batter is yet to be declared fit for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship 2025/27 series with the West Indies.
The first Test of the series will be played from 28 October in Dhaka, while the second one begins on 5 November in Sylhet and Bangladesh have yet to name their playing squad for the fixtures.
The series is crucial for Bangladesh, as they'll look to make the most of the home conditions against the tourists and improve their position in the ICC World Test Championship standings, where at present, they are in fourth position.
After a series loss to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh's fortunes in the World Test Championship have taken an upswing as they defeated Pakistan 2-0 and drew with Australia away from home 1-1, thus helping the side secure crucial points.
A team-first mindset seems to have been the key for Bangladesh's success, and Simmons wanted the team to continue with the same approach in case Litton is unfit to tackle the West Indies.
"Well, we will always miss a player of that class, you know," Simmons was quoted as saying by Daily Star.
"It's a gift, but again, it gives an opportunity to somebody else to come and hold that spot and help us to win the game.
"That’s what we’ve been trying to produce in here, that when somebody is out, somebody else comes in and fixes that position and does what is necessary in that position. So, hopefully whoever is batting in his position in the upcoming game will fulfil that.”
Bangladesh last featured in the longest-format in a drawn Test against Afghanistan earlier this month and are currently participating in a tri-series against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan.
On the other hand, West Indies' last Test outing was in a drawn World Test Championship series against Pakistan in July-August, and they're coming off a confidence-boosting limited-overs tour of India.
Series schedule:
First Test: October 28-November 1, Mirpur
Second Test: November 5-9, Sylhet