'What a way to start the year for Bangladesh cricket'

Bangladesh started the year 2022 with an incredible Test win over New Zealand, the current holders of the World Test Championship (WTC) title. 

And premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was among the first few to congratulate Bangladesh on their historic win in the first Test at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui today. 

"What a way to start the year for Bangladesh cricket. Big congratulations to the captain, players and coaching stuff," wrote Shakib on Twitter minutes before Mushfiqur Rahim hit a boundary off Kyle Jamieson to score the winning runs.

What a way to start the year for bangladesh cricket. Big congratulations to the captain, players and coaching stuff.; Shakib Al Hasan (@Sah75official) January 5, 2022

The thumping eight-wicket win was also the Tigers' first-ever Test win against the Kiwis and they did it in their 16th attempt. It also ended Bangladesh's 32-match losing streak across formats against the Kiwis in their backyard. 

This triumph remains all the more extraordinary as Bangladesh did it without a number of their experienced players like Tamim Iqbal, who missed out on the series due to injury, and Shakib Al Hasan, who had opted out due to personal reasons.

Bangladesh came to the series that started on the first day of the new year on the back of whitewashes in T20I and Test series at home against Pakistan. That only ended a bleak year for Bangladesh cricket that included a dismal T20 World Cup, which the Tigers exited after failing to manage a single win in the Super 12s.