Sports Desk:

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto believes that a few extra days of practice in Sylhet would have better prepared the national team for the upcoming Test series against Zimbabwe.

With several key players set to join the national camp after Saturday’s highly anticipated Abahani Limited-Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC) clash in the Bashundhara Dhaka Premier League (BDPL), the team faces a limited window for preparation ahead of the first Test, which begins on 20 April in Sylhet.

“I wouldn’t call it a warm-up match,” Najmul told reporters at SBNCS on Friday after a practice session, referring to the limited lead-up to the series. “The players are returning to Test cricket after quite a while. Sometimes I feel that if we had two or three more days of preparation, it would definitely have been better for us.”

While acknowledging the packed schedule, Najmul also highlighted the importance of the traditional Abahani-Mohammedan rivalry, noting that it carries a unique pressure and passion.

“The Abahani-Mohammedan match comes with high expectations from fans, and it’s a very important game,” he said. “That said, the players who have been called up are already mentally preparing themselves for how they want to approach the Test series.”

Despite the time crunch, Najmul remained optimistic about his team’s mindset and readiness.

“If you look at both aspects, yes — the Abahani-Mohammedan match is important, and so is the Test match. The players are managing both responsibilities well and preparing accordingly,” he said. “I hope that once we reach Sylhet, the time we get there will be enough for the players to fine-tune their preparations.”