Mirpur: Bangladesh's head coach, Phil Simmons, has reinforced the team's ambition to compete in the ICC World Test Championship 2025/27 final, as they gear up for the upcoming Test series against the West Indies, set to begin on October 28 in Mirpur. Currently positioned fourth in the ICC WTC standings with a point percentage of 55.56, Bangladesh is focused on maintaining its momentum in the championship race.

According to the International Cricket Council, Simmons expressed the team's desire to reach the WTC final, highlighting the importance of the upcoming series in achieving this goal. After an initial series loss to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh rebounded with a 2-0 victory over Pakistan and a historic draw in Australia. With two home series, including the one against the West Indies, and an away tour of South Africa ahead, Bangladesh remains in contention for a spot in the final.

Reflecting on Bangladesh's recent Test match against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, Simmons acknowledged that while his team should have secured a victory, the draw was not due to a misunderstanding of the match situation. Instead, he attributed the result to unexpected pitch conditions and missed opportunities in the field.

Simmons, a former all-rounder and coach for the West Indies, brings valuable experience to his current role, having previously led the West Indies to a Test series triumph in 2021. Despite his past affiliations, Simmons is unwavering in his commitment to leading Bangladesh to success in the forthcoming series against his former team.

The series will commence with the first Test from October 28 to November 1 in Mirpur, followed by the second Test from November 5 to 9 in Sylhet.