‘WI may be on the back foot mentally’

In the pre-pandemic era, all the talk ahead of an international series revolved around the pitches, the conditions and the opposition. But amid the Covid-19 pandemic, teams heading into a series are mostly thinking about life inside the bio-secure bubble, which has become an integral part of health protocols on tours.

In the pre-pandemic era, all the talk ahead of an international series revolved around the pitches, the conditions and the opposition. But amid the Covid-19 pandemic, teams heading into a series are mostly thinking about life inside the bio-secure bubble, which has become an integral part of health protocols on tours.

Following in the footsteps of England, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Australia, Bangladesh is also set to return to hosting international cricket with the upcoming home series against West Indies in January. comprising three ODIs and two Tests.

The two-Test series, which will be part of the ICC Test Championship, will be a crucial series for Bangladesh Test skipper Mominul Haque, who has undergone surgery on his right thumb and is expected to return.

West Indies are among the first teams to experience the new health protocols and stay inside a bio-secure bubble when international cricket resumed amid the pandemic.

But Mominul thought that the visitors would be under more pressure than the hosts when it comes to experiencing life inside the bio-secure bubble.

The 29-year-old is aware that West Indies -- who had a terrible outing in New Zealand, losing both the two-match Test and three-match T20I series -- will be on the back foot when they arrive in Bangladesh.

"They [West Indies] have played three-four series prior to this one and also stayed inside the bio-secure bubble. They might be on the back foot mentally, and since they are coming off the back of losing a Test series, that is certainly a positive for us. I think it's a completely mental thing [adjusting to the bio-secure bubble].

"We are yet to play any international series while staying inside the bio-secure bubble. Until the vaccine arrives, we have to play like this and it's better not to think about this and stay positive," Mominul told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

The Test skipper however does not want to take his opposition lightly and said it will be important for Bangladesh to play their best cricket.

"It does not mean that you will beat them easily because they lost a series. You have to play your best cricket to get the result in your favour and the only positive side is that they will be morally down. But that doesn't mean we can be relaxed. Yes, there may be a chance that the West Indies side will be so desperate to win here that they could take on extra pressure. They were inside the bio-secure bubble for the last three series and it's not easy," he added.

Bangladesh last played a Test match back in March this year against Zimbabwe. When asked whether Bangladesh are prepared for the longest format after such a long gap, Mominul said they had been prepared as they trained for the Sri Lanka tour, which was eventually postponed.