St. John's, Antigua - With an unwavering commitment to discipline and preparation, West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite has assured fans that his team will not take their opponents lightly as they face Bangladesh in a two-match Test series starting Friday.

Despite the Windies' formidable record at home against the Tigers, Brathwaite underscored the importance of approaching the series with respect and readiness.

Bangladesh last celebrated a Test series win in the Caribbean 15 years ago, and the West Indies have since swept the visitors 2-0 in their last two encounters. However, Brathwaite dismissed the idea of complacency, urging his side to focus solely on the task ahead.

What is gone is gone

"Everything that is gone is history," Brathwaite declared during a pre-match press conference. "We are playing against a talented Bangladesh team. What is gone is gone, and, obviously, we have to come tomorrow and start well in whatever we do."

He reiterated that Bangladesh remains a capable and challenging opponent. "We're playing against a talented Bangladesh team, and it won't be easy. The performances before are gone, so we have to come ready to go tomorrow morning," Brathwaite said with measured determination.

The West Indies' 2024 Test campaign has been fraught with difficulties, but Brathwaite insisted that the team's morale remains intact. He expressed optimism about the squad's ability to capitalize on their strengths, particularly with valuable World Test Championship points still at stake.

A year of challenges, but optimism remains

"We've been having a difficult year thus far," Brathwaite acknowledged. "But we had some good performances with the bat, and it's just to draw from them as much as possible. We have four innings here, and it's just to back your plans 100 percent."

Highlighting the importance of belief, he added, "We know that we have four games left in this cycle, and we can still pretty much come high up in the table, but we just have to believe."

Several players head into the series with promising form, having delivered strong performances in the ongoing Regional Super50 competition. "The batters are in a good space," Brathwaite observed. "A few of the guys would have played in the Super50 and got some scores. So that was good to see, and it's just all about that belief."

Bangladesh remains optimistic amid challenges

For Bangladesh, the series represents an opportunity to test their mettle, even in the absence of some senior players. Stand-in captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz expressed confidence in his youthful squad's ability to rise to the occasion.

"We are practising a lot, and we have been working hard the past few days," Mehidy noted. "We are thinking positive all the time, and we are focusing on our game."

Acknowledging the challenge of missing key players, he added, "It's been tough, but we still believe that we can be better. We have a good side right now, young players coming up, and they have the opportunity to perform in these conditions."

Echoing the theme of resilience, Mehidy declared, "We believe that we can play well and we can come out strongly."

As the series gets underway, both teams are determined to make their mark, showcasing skill, strategy, and tenacity. With critical World Test Championship points and national pride on the line, the cricketing world will watch eagerly to see if the West Indies can assert their dominance or if Bangladesh's young guns will deliver an upset.