Shakib’s Bangladesh will fight, Brafet knows

The West Indies came to Bangladesh in February last year to play a two-Test series. Craig Braffett captained the Caribbeans in that series. The West Indies returned home after winning a two-Test series 2-0 from Bangladesh.

Brafet thinks that Bangladesh has remembered that series rate. Since this time also in the West Indies two-Test series, Shakib Al Hasan’s team will aim to avenge the series lost in February. That is what the West Indies captain told the media yesterday.

The first Test of the series starts today in Antigua. Bangladesh lost the Test series 1-0 to Sri Lanka at home before leaving for the West Indies tour. Before that, he lost both the Tests by a big margin in the tour of South Africa.

Bangladesh did not get two batsmen Mushfiqur Rahim and Yasir Ali in the West Indies tour. Brafet thinks that Bangladesh will still fight and try to turn around. So there is nothing to take Shakib’s team lightly.

“We have to fight,” the West Indies captain told reporters. They (Bangladesh) cannot be taken lightly. This is the main thing. We have won 2-0 on their soil, so they will try to do well against us. Shakib has taken charge of the Bangladesh Test team after the resignation of Muminul Haque. Brafet thinks Shakib’s Bangladesh will fight, ‘There is no reason to underestimate that they are not one of the top three teams in the world. Not that they won’t find us. I think the batsmen and bowlers of the team have to work hard from discipline. ‘

The first Test will be held at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. Bangladesh had a nightmare in their last Test at this ground. In that Test of 2016, Bangladesh were all out for 43 runs in their first innings. West Indies batted once in their first innings with 406 runs. Bangladesh were bowled out for 144 in their second innings and lost by an innings and 219 runs.

“The wickets in this field have improved compared to four years ago,” said Brafet. It will be difficult to bat in the fourth innings and I think the spinners will have a chance to play a role. It is important to bat well in the first innings. But batting or bowling first is not the main thing, everything has to be done well. ‘