Published on 02:17 PM, October 13, 2016

Series isn’t over yet, we can still do well in Tests: Mashrafe Mortaza

Bangladesh cricketers celebrate the fall of a wicket. File Photo: STAR

With the one-day series done, both Bangladesh and England are now preparing for the two-match Test series, which is scheduled to begin at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong from October 20 onwards.

The Test specialists from both Bangladesh and England have already joined their respective camps. While the visitors trained today, the Bangladesh cricketers took a day off and will start training from tomorrow.

Tomorrow will also witness the first of the two two-day practice matches at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong.

Sabbir Rahman will lead the BCB XI team for the two-day encounter. Also in the squad are Soumya Sarkar, Mosaddek Hossain, Rubel Hossain and Shahriar Nafees. While England have already announced their Test squad, the hosts are expected to finalise their team after the two practice matches.

On the other hand, Bangladesh's ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza left for Dhaka in the morning by road. With the end of the ODI series, the tour has come to an end for the skipper and he will now try to get himself ready for the Bangladesh Premier League, the lucrative T20 domestic competition which is set to begin from November 4 onwards.  

Following the defeat yesterday, Mashrafe remained positive and said that he knew that his team could start afresh.

"The tour hasn't ended. We have two Tests and even though I am not a part of it I am very sure that we can do well against them and end on a good note.

"For me, this defeat won't affect me or the side. I am sure we can all start with a fresh mind when we begin to prepare for the New Zealand series," Mashrafe had said after the match yesterday.

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza speaks at a press conference. File Photo: AFP