Bangladesh Test team skipper Shakib Al Hasan is eyeing improvement in the top-order batting and pace bowling in the upcoming Test match against the West Indies starting today at sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua.
Shakib attended the pre-match press conference which is his first media interaction since becoming the Test captain for the third time replacing Mominul Haque early this month.
The all-rounder, who is ranked fourth in the current ICC Test all-rounders ranking, told the media that he is not looking for any long-term process but aiming at improvements in the team's performance in this two-Test series,
"I am only thinking about doing well in this match (first Test) and if we can do well in this Test we can carry that confidence to the next match. To be honest, I am not thinking beyond these two matches", he said on Wednesday at North Sound, Antigua.
"When the team was announced, Mominul was the captain. Suddenly I become the captain, so there is nothing to plan much or say something, even no chance of making any change in the squad. Now my target is to do well in these two Test matches, to improve the problem areas, and if we can have good series only then I can think about a long-term plan", added Shakib.
Bangladesh were forced to make a change in the squad as Yasir Ali is ruled out, Shakib said that he and his teammates know who is playing but the skipper does not want to reveal the line-up,
"Before four days we knew what will be our team (XI) so it is not necessary to announce. Some other countries declare their 12-member team when playing at home. As I said, in our team everybody knows who is playing and who is not for the last three days. It's not important whether people outside know it or not, the team members know that is important", said Shakib.
The newly appointed captain believes that the wicket is much better this time from the previous tour in 2018 where Bangladesh were all-out for 43 runs in the first innings at this ground,
"A much better wicket from our last visit, so we should perform better. If the game goes to the final session of day four or on the fifth day then the spinners might get an advantage. I will be very disappointed if our first bowlers don't do well on this wicket", Shakib told the media ahead of the first Test.
Batting has been a major concern for Bangladesh as the top order is failing frequently,
"I was shown some stats where I found that in last 13-15 innings, we lost four or five wickets for less than 100 runs nine times probably, which is not ideal for in a Test match for a team. So we have a big room for improvement in this particular area" said Shakib.
After the Dhaka Test against Sri Lanka, coach Russel Domingo hinted to make some changes in the batting order but Shakib is not a big fan of making changes and he said that with the exclusion of Mushfiqur Rahim due to his pilgrimage, there will be an automatic promotion for all the batsmen who used to come after him.
