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'Was Quite Clear...' Shanto Reveals Motivation Behind BAN's Historic Win Over NZ

image-lpnuyl7yBangladesh created history with a Test win in Sylhet (Twitter)

Impressed with his team's skill and temperament on display in conjuring up a historic maiden home Test win on Saturday (December 2) against New Zealand in Sylhet, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto held his head in pride at the "belief" system showcased by the Bangla Tigers over the past five days. 

Bangladesh dominated the back half of a gripping Test match after conceding a slender seven-run lead in the first innings with captain Shanto leading from the front via a terrific century and came out triumphant by 150 runs on the back of experienced left-arm spinner Taijul Islam's ten-wicket haul.

Shanto, who had laid bare Bangladesh's goal and desire to dominate home Tests and compete overseas in the fresh cycle spanning 2023-25, was effusive in praise for his troops, especially for backing his belief with their conviction on the cricket field.

Shanto Proud Of Bangladesh's Sylhet Test Win 

The victory would've tasted that much sweet to the Bangla Tigers, who had headed into the series amidst the doom and gloom of their disastrous ICC World Cup 2023 campaign in India and had appointed Shanto on stand-in duties in an in-transition set-up following injury to regular skipper and premier allrounder Shakib Al Hasan. 

"It is a good feeling. I am very happy to have won my first Test as captain. Everything went to plan. We played a good game," Shanto said at the post-match presentation. "I was quite clear about my statement that we could win this Test series. I didn't say it as motivation. I meant that we can win this game. Everyone had the same belief."

"I said that we have to win these two Tests. We have to believe in it. We came here with this in mind. We didn't think about the outcome. As long as we are in the present, we are going to be okay. What we need to do in that moment, we should understand that. I think the bowlers and fielders got stuck into their responsibilities quite well."

The win not only gave the Tigers their first-ever Test triumph against the Kiwis on home shores but also only their second victory in the World Test Championship (WTC) era, having pulled off a remarkable win in Mount Maunganui in early 2022 against the then-title holders New Zealand.