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The Bangladesh fast bowler reflects on his side's rise after the Darwin victory and looks ahead to the one-off red-ball match versus Afghanistan.
Bangladesh fast bowler Hasan Mahmud has expressed confidence in his team's ability to establish dominance in Test cricket following their recent success in Australia. The 26-year-old reflected on the momentum building within the Bangladesh camp as they prepare for a one-off Test against Afghanistan.
Bangladesh defeated Australia by nine wickets in Darwin in August 2026, a performance that underlined the team's growing strength in the longest format. The fast bowler was instrumental in that victory, claiming match figures of nine wickets across two innings, earning Player of the Match honours.
"The momentum is coming towards us, definitely," the talented right-arm seamer told AFP in an interview in Dhaka.
Hasan Mahmud on Bangladesh's Test cricket ambitions
Bangladesh currently occupy fourth position in the World Test Championship standings following their Darwin triumph. The team has won six matches across their last 13 Tests, demonstrating a marked improvement in their red-ball performances over the past two years. With six Tests remaining in the current World Test Championship cycle, including home series against West Indies and England, and a tour of South Africa, the team's trajectory remains crucial.
"If we win four matches at home, why shouldn't we play in the World Test Championship final? That's the dream for Bangladesh now," Mahmud said.
The Darwin Test showcased Mahmud's own development as a bowler. His figures of 6-55 in the first innings represented the third-best bowling performance by a Bangladesh fast bowler in Test cricket history. The haul also marked the first five-wicket haul by a Bangladesh bowler in Australia, underlining both his personal growth and the team's rising standard.
"Since we started playing, the thinking has changed. I was just doing my job and bowling. I wasn't giving them anything easy to hit. I would attack them with the short ball and keep bowling my way. If they hit me, they hit me," Mahmud said.
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Bangladesh are all set to face Afghanistan in a one-off Test at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, starting on Friday, October 9. However, this match isn't a part of the WTC.