Akram Khan calls for rethink of Bangladesh's home Test strategy

Bangladesh need to reconsider their approach to preparing home Test pitches, with former national captain Akram Khan arguing that the team's batting limitations should now carry greater weight in decisions over playing conditions.

The debate has resurfaced following Bangladesh's eight-wicket defeat to West Indies in the opening Test in Mirpur, where a surface expected to offer an advantage to the hosts' spinners ultimately worked more effectively for the visitors.

Akram believes Bangladesh can no longer rely on the formula that once brought them success at home. In earlier years, turning pitches suited a side that had both dependable batters and high-quality spinners. The current team, he argues, does not possess the same combination.

"Our biggest problem is our batters. We must pay attention to which wickets our batters feel comfortable playing on," Akram said.

His concern goes beyond the defeat against West Indies. Bangladesh's inability to score consistently has made the choice of home conditions increasingly important. 

A pitch designed primarily to exploit an opponent's weaknesses can become a liability if the home batters are unable to handle it themselves.

Bangladesh enjoyed memorable home Test victories against England and Australia between 2014 and 2018, when their spin attack, led by Shakib Al Hasan, was a major strength. But the absence of a spinner of Shakib's quality has reduced the effectiveness of that strategy.

Recent results also offer reasons to reconsider the approach. Bangladesh had won five consecutive home Tests since April 2025 on more sporting surfaces, where their batters played an important role. Their struggles on turning tracks, meanwhile, have repeatedly exposed weaknesses against opposition spin.

The victory over Australia in Darwin earlier in the current World Test Championship cycle provides another point of reference. Bangladesh succeeded on a sporting surface, with their batting making a decisive contribution.

Akram believes the priority should therefore be to create conditions in which Bangladesh's own players can perform consistently, rather than concentrating too heavily on neutralising the opposition.

The challenge is immediate. Bangladesh travel to Sylhet for the second Test against West Indies, starting November 5, with the series already on the line. The team management must decide whether to continue with a spin-oriented strategy or provide a surface that offers a more balanced contest.

For Bangladesh, the issue is no longer simply how to make home conditions difficult for visiting teams. It is also about creating an environment in which their own batters can build the totals needed to win Test matches.