Sports

West Indies Aim to Finish 2026 Unbeaten in Test Series

By Randy Bennett

DHAKA, Bangladesh – The West Indies are looking to finish 2026 without losing a Test series, a feat not achieved since 1994, after a successful white‑ball tour of India. Head coach Daren Sammy said the team is entering the two‑Test series against Bangladesh with high spirits and will play “all out” to secure a victory. “The message to the guys is to give it your all. It’s 10 possible days of Test cricket left in this cycle for us and just go out there and give it your all,” Sammy told reporters after the final training session before the opening Test on Wednesday. The West Indies have already won a 1‑0 series against Sri Lanka in the Caribbean and drawn 1‑1 with Pakistan at home. Sammy noted the team’s performance this year and the opportunity to finish the World Test Championship on a high. He added that Bangladesh has been playing well, but so has the West Indies. The series will be played without wicket‑keeper/batter Shai Hope, who was rested after a strong showing in India. Hope, who scored two centuries in a three‑match ODI series and two hundreds in a five‑match T20I series, averages 24.52 in Tests but 45.26 since October 2025. Sammy acknowledged Hope’s absence as a loss but stressed that the side does not rely on a single player. “We miss Shai Hope but it’s an opportunity for somebody else to step up and make a name for themselves,” he said. The West Indies will look to capitalize on this chance to end the year unbeaten in Test cricket.