What's next for Bangladesh and Ireland in Test cricket?

Following the conclusion of the two-match Test series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, both captains—Najmul Hossain and Andrew Balbirnie—expressed concerns about their teams' future in the format.

Bangladesh's Path

Bangladesh are scheduled to face Pakistan in a two-match Test series next March. Captain Najmul Hossain highlighted that maintaining player motivation during the gap will be a major challenge, as there are limited first-class matches until then.

Currently, Test players will participate in the National Cricket League, Bangladesh's primary first-class competition, with some also expected to feature in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The Bangladesh Cricket League may follow the BPL, though plans are not yet finalized.

Najmul emphasized the importance of purposeful individual practice and communication among players to stay prepared. He noted that playing any four-day matches before the Pakistan series would be beneficial but is uncertain if such opportunities will arise.

On batting performance, Najmul pointed out that while the team scored four centuries and eight half-centuries in the series, the hundreds could have been larger—transforming into 150s or double centuries. He stressed that scoring big in domestic first-class cricket is essential for Test success and urged all players to participate in first-class matches whenever possible.

Ireland's Challenge

Ireland's next Test assignment is not until August 2026, against Afghanistan, with few first-class matches available for development in the interim. Captain Andrew Balbirnie acknowledged that the team is "learning on the job" with each Test.

He cited debutant Murad Hasan, who had prior first-class experience in Bangladesh, as an example of how preparation helps. Balbirnie contrasted this with the long timelines required for Irish players to achieve milestones, noting that it might take 50 years for an Irish cricketer to reach 100 Test caps—far longer than the 20 years it took Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim.