Confidence high as Bangladesh selector targets WTC27 Final

Bangladesh selection chief Habibul Bashar believes his side are well placed to reach the ICC World Test Championship Final for the very first time.

The Asian side departed Australia on Monday following a 1-1 draw with the Aussies in the recent two-match Test series and find themselves in fourth place on the World Test Championship standings with just six more matches remaining this cycle.

The first of those fixtures for Bangladesh comes against the West Indies on home soil later this year when the two teams meet in a two-game series and Bashar thinks his side are in a good position to target a top two finish at the end of the cycle and qualify for next year's final.

“We are now in a very good position in the World Test Championship," Bashar said.

"We have five very important Tests coming up, so let’s see what happens."

Bashar said Bangladesh's results in recent times have been excellent, with the selector pointing to their 2-0 series sweep over Pakistan earlier in the year and their upset triumph in the first Test against Australia as proof they have made vast improvement.

“It’s not just the Australia Tests. If you look at our previous Test matches against Pakistan, or the Tests before that, we have been winning Tests regularly," he said.

"If you look at the statistics since 2000 and compare them with those of the last two years, you have to say that Bangladesh Test cricket has come a long way."

But despite all the good recent form, Bashar admitted his side still have a long way to go before they consider themselves one of the best teams in Test cricket.

“I don’t think I can say right now that, as a Test team, we have become a very good side. I think we still have a long way to go. But we have managed to make a statement of our own," Bashar added.

“But what Bangladesh are taking back from Australia is something we spoke about before coming here: when we return home, we want to take back a certain level of respect. I think we are able to return home with that respect."

Series schedule:
First Test: Bangladesh won by nine wickets 
Second Test: Australia won by an innings and 51 runs