Leading all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, in an interview with the Telegraph, Australia, hoped Bangladesh to play more international matches against top-ranked sides. Shakib, featuring for Adelaide Strikers, spoke to the newspaper on Saturday where he also expressed his desire of seeing more players from his country to feature in the Big Bash League (BBL)in future.
“Obviously it would have been great to play Australia, England and South Africa more often," said Shakib, the first Bangladeshi to play in the BBL.
"That would give us experience and allow us to adjust to the conditions because the subcontinent is very different to here, England or South Africa," he added.
Bangladesh has lost its four Tests to Australia but gave Ricky Ponting's unit an almighty fright in 2006, losing by three wickets at Fatullah.
Bangladesh's first player to 2,000 Test runs and 100 wickets, Shakib has never featured in a Test series against Australia but says it is crucial for the 10th ranked Test side's development to have regular contact with established nations.
Bangladesh beat England at the 2011 World Cup but Shakib was diplomatic when asked if the Tigers could have put up a better fight against Australia this summer, "With cricket, there are ups and downs.
"I had been watching the Big Bash games at home. I am looking forward to playing, very excited. It is a great honour for me and Bangladesh cricket. I hope that in time there will be many more Bangladesh cricketers playing here," said Shakib who was picked by the Adelaide Strikers after key all-rounder skipper Johan Botha's thumb injury.
Shakib was Bangladesh's top performer as a rookie during the three-match one-day series against Australia in Darwin in 2008 and he said he liked the conditions there, "Adelaide is a spinning track and flat so there will be lots of runs. I have to contain with the ball and score runs for the team.”
The all-rounder has gained a reputation for being a cool customer, with his composed left-arm spin and sure batting - underlined by a lucrative Indian Premier League contract with Kolkata Knight-Riders.
"I did play with some big names and it is the biggest T20 tournament so I had some great experiences," he said, regarding his sting in the IPL with Kolkata last year, where he played in a team that included Australian keeper Brad Haddin and South African legend Jacques Kallis.
"I have been playing for the national team for seven years and most of the time I bowl in the powerplay and batted at crucial times, so that is what I have learned and that is what I would love to do for Adelaide, " he said.
