Bangladesh enters a two-Test cricket series against the West Indies starting Wednesday in Dhaka, chasing a potential appearance in the World Test Championship final. Sitting fourth in the 2025-27 WTC standings, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side requires four wins and a draw from their remaining six matches to keep up hopes of reaching the final for the first time.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- West Indies Test futures face scrutiny as the squad plays its final assignment of the current cycle away from home.
- After the series against West Indies, Bangladesh will play two tests in South Africa and two at home against England.
Chasing the 2025-27 WTC Final Landmark
Bangladesh has played six matches in the current cycle, recording three victories, two defeats, and one draw. Those wins include a 2-0 sweep over Pakistan and a historic triumph in Australia. To keep the WTC final dream alive, Shanto’s squad must navigate a demanding schedule that, following the West Indies series, features two Tests in South Africa and a two-match home series against England.
🚨 BANGLADESH vs WEST INDIES — WTC TEST SERIES! 🇧🇩🏏🇯🇲The schedule for the two-match ICC World Test Championship series has been announced! ⏳🔥📅 1st Test: Oct 28–Nov 1📍 Mirpur📅 2nd Test: Nov 5–9📍 SylhetThe battle for crucial WTC points begins! 🔥🏆 pic.twitter.com/88ovfhn161
“As I said always, if we can fulfil the small target, we’ll achieve the bigger target. So the immediate focus is onto the series against West Indies,” Shanto said, emphasizing the need to maintain processes and play as a unified unit.
Head coach Phil Simmons echoed that sentiment, noting that the ambition of reaching the WTC final provides motivation for the dressing room. “I think everyone is very focused on the test match,” Simmons said, highlighting that this is the first time the team has had that opportunity.
Weighing Historical Head-to-Head Records
Historical context shows a challenging road ahead against Caribbean opposition. Across 11 previous Test series, Bangladesh has won twice, coming out on top in 2009 and 2018, while the West Indies has claimed eight series victories alongside one draw. In 22 total Tests between the two sides, Bangladesh holds five victories against 15 losses. Furthermore, the West Indies secured the most recent red-ball bragging rights by sweeping a two-match series in Bangladesh in 2021.
Despite those past struggles, the visitors arrive in Dhaka sitting eighth in the WTC standings for what marks their final assignment of the current cycle. Head coach Darren Sammy pointed to the team’s undefeated Test series record this calendar year, alongside strong white-ball performances in India, as vital momentum.
“We obviously know Bangladesh has been playing some good cricket, but so have we been playing some good cricket this year,” Sammy said. “When we started the World Test Championship … we’re right where we wanted to be.”
Preparing for Immediate Execution in Dhaka
Shanto pointed to recent missed opportunities outside the official WTC window as cautionary tales for his side. Bangladesh recently lost a Test against Zimbabwe and drew with Afghanistan in matches hosted in the United Arab Emirates. “We should have won the test against Afghanistan but we didn’t play good cricket in the last two days,” Shanto said.
With the opening ball approaching, the immediate tactical objective remains straightforward: secure a home result to keep the mathematical path to the WTC final wide open.
Related reading
