Shanto struggles to express joy after historic series win

Bangladesh’s 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan on their own soil, complete with a whitewash, has left captain Najmul Hossain Shanto struggling to find the right words to express his joy.

Historically, Bangladesh’s overseas Test series have often been marked by frustration, with the longest format of the game proving particularly challenging.

Despite a few successes, these have been overshadowed by consistent failures. However, the story was different during Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan, where the hosts were left grappling with their own disappointments.

Before the series began, Shanto had voiced his belief in the team’s potential, saying, “This is a chance for us to perform well.”

At the time, few had put much faith in his optimism. Yet, his words rang true as Bangladesh secured their first-ever Test victory against Pakistan in the opening match, winning by a commanding 10 wickets. This impressive win sparked hope for a series victory.

The hope was realised as Bangladesh dominated in both batting and bowling, clinching a 6-wicket win in the second Test.

The series win, featuring a 2-0 whitewash, stands as one of the greatest achievements in Bangladesh’s Test history under Shanto’s leadership. Reflecting on the victory, Shanto admitted he was overwhelmed and struggled to express his joy. “This means so much to us; words cannot fully capture how happy we are. Our goal coming here was to win, and I am very pleased with how everyone contributed.”

Shanto attributed the success to the collective performance of the team, including the four players who did not play in the matches.

He acknowledged their contributions, saying, “Everyone has played a role in this series. The success has come from a team effort. Even those who did not get a chance to play worked hard off the field. We usually highlight those who score runs or take wickets, but this victory is a result of everyone’s combined efforts.”

The series had its challenges, notably the injury of regular opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy, which led to Sadaf Islam stepping up. Shanto praised Sadaf’s performance, particularly his impressive 93-run innings in the first Test. “With Joy injured, Sadaf did an excellent job. His innings was outstanding. Zakir’s batting in the 6-7 overs was crucial, shifting the momentum in our favour. We needed that from them.”