Bangladesh raring to go

A confident Bangladesh team reached Khulna yesterday afternoon with hopes of continuing their good run against Pakistan in the upcoming Test series. Bangladesh's Test record against Pakistan is as dismal as their ODI record was prior to the series. However, if the three-match ODI series and the sole T20I have taught sporting pundits anything, then they should think twice before basing their predictions solely on the head-to-head statistics.

Bangladesh have lost all eight of their Test matches against Pakistan; a stat which includes four innings-defeats. On average the Tigers have scored just 20.91 runs per wicket against Pakistan in Tests which is their second lowest.

In the current line-up, Shakib Al Hasan, Shahadat Hossain and Mahmudullah Riyad are the only players to have taken wickets against Pakistan. While Shakib and Mushfiqur have scored at decent averages against Pakistan -- 52 and 36 respectively -- the news isn't great for the rest of the team. Tamim Iqbal and Riyad average around 15.

This is also a comparatively new Test outfit with eight out of the 14 players set to face Pakistan for the first time. While the younger players were instrumental in Bangladesh's 3-0 whitewash in the ODIs, only time will tell if they can influence a similar result in the two-match Test series.

One of the new players who will be expected to carry a heavy load is Soumya Sarkar.Although he excelled with a breathtaking century in the third ODI, the tall left-hander expects more difficult times in the Test series.

"Test cricket is a different ball game altogether. It is a lot tougher," Soumya told reporters at the team hotel yesterday afternoon, right before the Tigers departed for Khulna.

While he performed as an opener in the ODIs, chief selector Faruque Ahmed indicated that the batsman may not open in the Tests. Faruque's statement however, barely made a difference for Soumya. " I am ready to play in any position for my country," said the debutant.

Soumya's partner Tamim shared a similar sentiment and believed that he could carry the momentum generated in the ODI series. "The important thing for me is to keep enjoying the game. ," the dashing opener asserted.

It may seem as though pacer Shahadat Hossain has been on and off the national team in the last few years. But a glance at his statistics would tell you that the lanky bowler has been a part of most of the Tests that the Tiger have played recently. It's just that lack of Tests that tends to make one overlook Shahadat.

The bowler hopes to end the series on a more memorable note this time around. "I don't know why but I enjoy longer version cricket a lot more. I hope to do well," said Shahadat.