'That declaration was a massive decision' – Najmul on win versus Pakistan

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto said the decision to declare on the final day of the opening Test against Pakistan was a defining moment in their historic victory at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Nahid Rana's five-wicket haul powered Bangladesh to a memorable 104-run win, their first-ever Test victory over Pakistan on home soil. But for Najmul, the aggressive declaration – with Bangladesh setting Pakistan a target of 268 to get in 76 overs – reflected a shift in mindset that ultimately shaped the result.

"I think the biggest thing in this Test match was the declaration, that was a massive decision. Something our team has never quite done before in this way. This will serve us in the future, and this decision will give us more confidence that it's possible to win a match from a position like this. I'd say that's the most novel thing that happened in this entire Test match," said Najmul.

Bangladesh began the final day intent on forcing a result. Even when Pakistan appeared comfortable at 116 for 3 at Tea, the message inside the dressing room remained unchanged.

"From the morning, our message was that we would play to win – regardless of the situation. At the Tea break, the coach gave the same message, and we all went back in with the belief that we would win from here," Najmul said.

"And if we couldn't win, we'd at least make it very hard for them to save the match. That was the attitude. Not for a single moment did we think we might lose the match or that we wanted a draw. We had that aggressive mindset and we tried to win," he added.

Najmul, who scored 101 and 87 in the match, expressed pride in the way the team has evolved in the longest format.

"Very happy. Proud of all the guys, the way we played. Slowly we are getting better at Test cricket and that's one thing we have always wanted to do," he said.

The skipper reserved special praise for the bowling unit, particularly highlighting the role played by Taskin Ahmed in turning the momentum Bangladesh's way before Nahid Rana and Taijul Islam tightened their grip on the contest.

"Before talking about Nahid, I will talk about Taskin a little. Actually, Taskin gave the start. The way he came after Tea and started bowling, that four-five over spell actually brought the momentum towards us," he said.

"Then Taijul bhai bowled brilliantly in the middle overs. Although he did not get much chance to bowl in the first innings.

"We know about Rana how special he is and how hard he bowls. He is also slowly developing his skills. I enjoyed that a lot and it was definitely nice to see how the opponent was scared. I am very happy with the way he is contributing for the team. We will want him to contribute for the team like this regularly," he said.

Najmul also stressed the importance of supporting Bangladesh's growing pool of Test fast bowlers and called for greater recognition for players specialising in the format.

"The increasing responsibility taken by our fast bowlers is a positive shift. I intend to advocate to the cricket board for better maintenance and support for this group," he said, adding that Test bowlers should be recognized.

"It is crucial that Test specialists receive the same recognition and opportunities as those playing shorter formats. Both the board and the media play a vital role in ensuring Test cricket and its players are given the importance they deserve," he concluded.