Sammy wants team to ‘stay hungry’

West Indies captain looking to continue good run against Bangladesh.

DHAKA: West Indies captain Darren Sammy wants his players to ‘stay hungry’ and to build on recent successes when they meet Bangladesh tomorrow in the first of two Tests.

Sammy’s men are buoyed by victory in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka last month following a 2-0 home Test win over New Zealand.

They are looking to continue the good work in a Bangladesh tour which also includes a One-Day International (ODI) series and a Twenty20.

“I think the World Twenty20 was a great achievement for us but we have got to stay hungry,” he said. “We can’t keep thinking because we won the World Twenty20 that we have turned the corner.”

With Chris Gayle in good form and the ever-reliable Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who has played in 144 Tests, they boast a strong batting line-up.

Sammy said his mission is to win every match.

“We have definitely improved as a team. We are a bit more consistent and won both the Tests against New Zealand and our mission here is to win all matches in Bangladesh.”

Bangladesh have just three wins in 73 games since attaining Test status 12 years ago, but Sammy is not taking the team lightly.

“Bangladesh is a team we have never taken lightly, they are always a difficult opposition at home,” said Sammy, whose team will be without spearhead paceman Kemar Roach.

Roach injured his knee and was replaced by Fidel Edwards in the squad, which also has Sunil Narine, Veerasammy Permaul and Narsingh Deonarine as spinners.

Bangladesh will need to make a big effort in what will be their first Test for 11 months — a gap which opener Tamim Iqbal termed disappointing.

“Our situation isn’t good, we play Tests after long gaps,” said Iqbal. “We should have this mentality of adapting ourselves from one format to the other.”

Bangladesh will rely more on their spinners in the absence of injured paceman Mashrafe Mortaza and have included uncapped off-spinner Sohag Gazi in the 14-man squad.

The second Test will be played in the new venue of Khulna from November 21.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2012.