‘It will be special to win 2-0’

Bangladesh Test skipper Shakib Al Hasan would like to replicate the 2009 away Test series sweep against West Indies by winning the second Test at Mirpur.

Shakib captained the Tigers to a clean 2-0 sweep after skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza had to return home due to a knee injury he suffered while playing the first Test in St. Vincent. A 2-0 win would also mean that the Tigers will avenge their 2-0 Test series loss in West Indies earlier this year.

"It will be special for Bangladesh to win 2-0 and we are doing everything that's needed for us to achieve that result and preparing ourselves accordingly," the skipper said in a press conference today.

However, the skipper will no get completely lost in emotions in pursuit of victory as a draw would also see Bangladesh win their first Test series at home in four years.

"If we don't manage to win then our target is to win the series 1-0 since the ultimate objective is to win the series.

"We don't want to win the series playing defensively. We want to be in a positive frame of mind so that we can win 2-0," he opined.

The first Test at Chattogram ended within three days but Tigers faced plenty of difficulties. To replicate the 2-0 sweep from 2009, Bangladesh will have to work even harder than they did in the first Test. Shakib did not forget that West Indies then were a depleted side. "Opportunity is there, but chances will have to be taken and lots of hard work is needed," he said on attaining a series victory.

"Naturally West Indies are a better team and will be excited [for the second Test]. They will give their all to do well and try to win. We have to perform much better than we did in Chattogram.

"We will challenge ourselves and I believe we can overcome this challenge. We have to be strong mentally and physically for that to happen," the skipper concluded.