DHAKA, Oct 20, 2024 (BSS) - Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto categorically said that the players are solely focused on making a winning start in the two-match Test series against South Africa, being not fazed by the issues which are not cricket related. 

“I think the outside noise is not in anyone’s head. Everyone’s focused on tomorrow’s game (against South Africa),” Shanto said ahead of the Test.

“We have never won against South Africa, but this is a big opportunity with the team we have and our home conditions. There will be challenges but I think we have a good opportunity,” he said.

Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha was sacked just a few days ago of the Test series and was replaced by Phil Simmons while all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan made him unavailable from the squad for the first Test, that was supposed to be his Test swansong. Shakib, a former lawmaker from the Awami League government which was ousted by a Mass Uprising, led by students, cited security issue to return to the country as public anger grew stronger against him once he was included in the squad.

“So many things changed just five days ago. New coach hasn’t given many plans yet. He is new, trying to understand things. As a captain, I know what I want to do and how our team wants to play,” Shanto said, adding that he shared his plan with the new coach as he didn’t have adequate time to set a goal.

“I have shared my plans with coach. He agreed with me. I think we can use the experience of playing on this ground. I don’t think it’s important to mix between old and new coach because the players are experienced of playing here,” he said.

“We had both good and bad times under him (Chandika Hathurusingha). We won some matches, we lost too. We have to look forward, we can’t look back. It’s important how we play the coming Test,” he added.

Shanto urged the young players to take the responsibility to fill the void of Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim who is also in the twilight of his career.

“There are young batters in the pipeline but to build someone like Mushfiq bhai or Shakib bhai, we have to give time to the new ones coming,” he said.

“It is a matter of process. I will want the young players to play with intensity in domestic matches. I want them to take the responsibility by themselves rather than waiting for someone else,” he added.