Bangladesh are no pushovers and are capable of not only giving India a good fight in the second Test but also beat them and square the series, host opener Tamim Iqbal said in Mirpur on Saturday.
"We are not a team just to come and play. We can compete with them (India). If we don't commit the mistakes of the first Test, we can get a positive result either a draw or a win," he said at the pre-match press conference.
Asked about the alleged sledging by the Indian players in the first game, Tamim said, "Sledging is part and parcel of the game. We have very good good relations with the Indian players, off the field."
The southpaw said he was determined to do well in Test cricket, which he says was the ultimate format of the game.
"I enjoy scoring runs in one-dayers but Test cricket is different. In Test cricket I want to bat as long as possible and there concentration is important. If you bat long you will score.
"In Chittagong I was concentrating each of the 121 balls I faced but I did not concentrate on the 122nd ball and I was out," said Tamim who scored 31 and 52 in the two innings in the first Test.
"I am pretty new in Test cricket and it will take some time for me to do well consistently. But I want to become a good Test player as it is the ultimate form of cricket."
He said Bangladesh have improved as a side but it will take some more time to come up with consistent performance.
"We are an improving in fielding, batting and bowling. The bowlers did better in Test than at the tri-series (earlier this month). In batting we had not done badly in the first Test," he said.
Talking about poor form of his teammates Mohammad Ashraful and Shahriar Nafees, Tamim hoped they would soon find their touch back.
"As for Nafees it is very difficult to return to form after being out of the game for long (after severing ties with Indian Cricket League) but he will be among runs soon. Ashraful is also a good player. He has scored five hundreds in Test, he will get back his form," he said.
Tamim refused to take questions on the Bangladesh Cricket Board Mustafa Kamal questioning the commitment of the players though captain Shakib Al Hasan had hit back saying no cricketer was wanting in commitment as playing the game was there means of livelihood.
"I don't want to say anything on this issue," he said.
