Dhaka Tribune got in touch with a few members of Bangladesh’s first Test squad and penned down their respective thoughts on the milestone. Below are the excerpts:
Shahriar Hossain BiddutThe beginningIt was an exciting moment for us and beyond our imagination. It was like a dream to be a part of Bangladesh's first Test team. All the 14 members, including myself, were static on the occasion.
The achievementHaving played 100 Tests itself is an achievement for our country’s cricket. It is a matter of honour for a small country like ours. It feels nice to have come such a long way in international cricket. We have started improving in this format and our players are getting composed with each passing day. The cricket board has done a lot of work to improve the game in our country. But I will expect some sort of ceremony from the board to mark the occasion.
Bangladesh's opening partnership in the inaugural Test, Shahriar Hossain Biddut and Mehrab Hossain Opee
COURTESYThe failureI do not think we lag behind in terms of facilities, compared to the top cricket-playing countries. The cricket board is giving the right support. Our cricketers are improving. I do not think there is anything more to be done. So the responsibility lies with the players to get the results and I believe a better future awaits us.
Improvements neededWe need to play more longer version games. Our team are improving right now and things will only get better the more we play this format.
Akram KhanThe beginningWe were really excited. Never did I think that I will be able to play Tests when I started my career. That time, all the attention was towards the domestic cricket, especially Mohammedan—Abahani clashes. But we have come a long way from that. And now we are getting ready for our 100th Test. Three members (others being Tamim and Nafees Iqbal) from my family, including myself, have been a part of Tests. I am thankful to Allah for everything.
The achievementWe have many individual achievements. There are achievements as a bowler and as a batsman but we are yet to click as a team. We have progressed in ODIs and T20Is but not in the longer-version, only because we are not given enough chances to play the game. But I believe that Bangladesh will do well if given enough opportunities.
Former Bangladesh captain Akram Khan
COURTESYThe failureNot being able to play enough Tests is the failure for us. We are doing well in limited-over cricket only because we are playing those regularly.
Improvements neededWe have to look into both internal and external affairs. Internally, we have to improve the quality of first-class cricket in the country. We have to make better wickets for the bowlers and make it tough for the batsmen to score runs and increase the players' interest towards domestic competitions. Externally, we have to demand more Test matches from the ICC and other Test-playing nations.
Habibul BasharThe beginningWe are about to play the 100th Test now but the start was never easy. We got Test status suddenly. The first thing I felt was the honour of being a Test cricketer. It is a big thing.
The achievementWe had to go through a lot of criticism. Many during this journey had complained that we got the status prematurely. We had to struggle a lot. None tried to understand that it was never easy for us. So for me the achievement is the way we are now, we have started playing the game well. We have been able to put us up in that map. And we have been able to earn the respect as a cricket-playing nation. That's the biggest achievement for us.
Former Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar
COURTESYThe failureWe have not been able to win that many Tests. We should have won more. We made slow progress and there were many times when we lost way in between a game. We are playing good cricket now and able to create the situation of winning a game but still lack the expertise of being triumphant.
Improvements neededIn order to do better, we need attacking bowlers in this format. We need batsmen too but at the same time, it is a necessary to have attacking bowlers. We are yet to find those. I think if we have four or five attacking bowlers in hand who can win us matches, the scenario will be different for us.
Bangladesh's opening partnership in the inaugural Test, Shahriar Hossain Biddut and Mehrab Hossain Opee COURTESYThe failureI do not think we lag behind in terms of facilities, compared to the top cricket-playing countries. The cricket board is giving the right support. Our cricketers are improving. I do not think there is anything more to be done. So the responsibility lies with the players to get the results and I believe a better future awaits us.Improvements neededWe need to play more longer version games. Our team are improving right now and things will only get better the more we play this format.Akram KhanThe beginningWe were really excited. Never did I think that I will be able to play Tests when I started my career. That time, all the attention was towards the domestic cricket, especially Mohammedan—Abahani clashes. But we have come a long way from that. And now we are getting ready for our 100th Test. Three members (others being Tamim and Nafees Iqbal) from my family, including myself, have been a part of Tests. I am thankful to Allah for everything.The achievementWe have many individual achievements. There are achievements as a bowler and as a batsman but we are yet to click as a team. We have progressed in ODIs and T20Is but not in the longer-version, only because we are not given enough chances to play the game. But I believe that Bangladesh will do well if given enough opportunities.
Former Bangladesh captain Akram Khan COURTESYThe failureNot being able to play enough Tests is the failure for us. We are doing well in limited-over cricket only because we are playing those regularly.Improvements neededWe have to look into both internal and external affairs. Internally, we have to improve the quality of first-class cricket in the country. We have to make better wickets for the bowlers and make it tough for the batsmen to score runs and increase the players' interest towards domestic competitions. Externally, we have to demand more Test matches from the ICC and other Test-playing nations.Habibul BasharThe beginningWe are about to play the 100th Test now but the start was never easy. We got Test status suddenly. The first thing I felt was the honour of being a Test cricketer. It is a big thing.The achievementWe had to go through a lot of criticism. Many during this journey had complained that we got the status prematurely. We had to struggle a lot. None tried to understand that it was never easy for us. So for me the achievement is the way we are now, we have started playing the game well. We have been able to put us up in that map. And we have been able to earn the respect as a cricket-playing nation. That's the biggest achievement for us.
Former Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar COURTESYThe failureWe have not been able to win that many Tests. We should have won more. We made slow progress and there were many times when we lost way in between a game. We are playing good cricket now and able to create the situation of winning a game but still lack the expertise of being triumphant.Improvements neededIn order to do better, we need attacking bowlers in this format. We need batsmen too but at the same time, it is a necessary to have attacking bowlers. We are yet to find those. I think if we have four or five attacking bowlers in hand who can win us matches, the scenario will be different for us.