The second Test between India and Bangladesh is set to begin in Kanpur on Thursday, September 26, with India holding a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Following their impressive 2-0 series win over Pakistan, Bangladesh had high hopes of challenging India. However, they were met with a hefty 280-run defeat in Chennai in the series opener. On the other hand, Team India has consistently demonstrated their strength in Test cricket, as evidenced by their performance in the World Test Championship. They have reached the final in two consecutive editions and are aiming for a third consecutive appearance. But Pakistan haven't managed to match India's glory in the longest format of late. Bangladesh's veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan also seconded the thought.
Bangladesh have more experience than Pakistan: Shakib AL Hasan
In the pre-match press-conference ahead of second Test against India, Shakib said that the current lot of Men in Green lacks the level of experience that is typically expected in Test cricket.
“Pakistan is a relatively new team. In experience, I would say, if you look at the matches they played and if you look at our team and the matches we have played, we have got more experience than them. And in Test cricket I think that is a massive factor,” Shakib said in the pre-match press conference.
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Shakib highlighted India's dominance at home as a key factor contributing to their success in Test cricket.
"If I talk about India, they are the number one team in the World Championship at this moment. They are probably unbeatable at home. I saw a stat somewhere where for some 4000 days they have been unbeaten in India. So, that shows how good they are in India. They have been doing well outside India as well. Any country that came to India finding it difficult, we are no different there. But having said that, we have to play really well against them to be able to show the fight that we feel like we can put on," he added.
Bangladesh's veteran all-rounder, who has announced his retirement from T20Is, surprise everyone by hinting that the Kanpur Test against India could be his last appearance in the longest format.
"I have expressed my desire to play my last Test in Mirpur, if that won't happen, second Test against India would be my last,” Shakib said, as quoted by PTI.
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