Bangladesh Test skipper Najmul Hossain said his team could not play even "50 percent" to their potential in the Test series against West Indies.

“It's very important to accept that we didn't play good cricket. I think we weren't even playing 50 per cent of the cricket we usually play in this format,” said Najmul.

He added that if they had done better with their planning and execution, the result might have been different, but they could not capitalise on their home advantage.

The Bangladesh skipper was criticised for picking three spinners instead of three pacers in the playing XI, despite impressive performances of their fast bowlers across format cricket recently.

“Our plan was to play on a spin wicket, to be very honest. If you look at both matches, we played with three spinners and two pace bowlers. I don't think we lost the first match due to the conditions. I think we didn't do well in all three departments: batting, bowling, and fielding. So that's why we lost the match, and I think the plan was correct, but the execution, as I mentioned earlier, wasn't proper,” said Najmul.

“I wouldn't say we got the exact conditions we wanted or expected in Sylhet. So, in that aspect, we might have been a bit behind in terms of planning,” he said.

“We felt that the spin might start a bit earlier but unfortunately it didn't happen. So, in the future, if we want to create such conditions again, we need to discuss it more thoroughly and plan how we can bring the conditions more in our favor in a proper way.

“Look, these things are actually planned much in advance like what kind of conditions we will play in and what kind of wicket we want when we play at home and we must take that advantage.

“I think we should have gotten that (home advantage) fully. Even if not fully, at least close to it. Unfortunately, we got a bit less, and I don't want to make excuses by saying this. Overall, if you look, neither our batsmen nor our bowlers could perform well in the Test match. So, the responsibility is ours. But again, when we play at home, we must take these advantages. So, inshallah, if such an opportunity arises again in the future, we will have to think more carefully and create the conditions,” he said.

Najmul noted that West Indies also played three spinners, saying that the expectation was for the ball to turn a bit earlier. The captain said that had full faith in their spinners, who have historically played a crucial role for Bangladesh.

“It's not right to lose that trust in spinners so quickly, and I believe the three spinners who played are very capable. Yes, I agree they haven't bowled well in the last two or three series. But I think they should definitely be given credit for how they have contributed as a spin bowling unit over the last 10-12 years. Sometimes two or three series can go badly, but backing them is important, and I believe they will make a very good comeback,” he said.

He also admitted that the team management needs to make proper plans as far as their workload is concerned considering that some of their Test cricketers had been in action for a long duration.

A part of the squad featured in the Asian Games and later went to UAE to play the one-off Test against Afghanistan, and the ODI tri-series that followed the Tests.

Many felt the BCB failed to understand the importance of the World Test Championship, and should have considered resting their key players, infusing fresh blood instead for the one-off Test and the tri-nation series.

"In this area, we need to plan a bit better going forward," Najmul said. "Because with back-to-back matches happening now, we need to plan better for the series and gradually figure out which player will play in which series and how much they will play, and we need to learn these things. Although sometimes we don't have enough backup options for players, we sometimes struggle in this way. But with the way our games are going, if we plan a bit better in the future, I think we will be able to prepare better before each series".

Najmul praised Towhid Hridoy for his double hundred in the first innings, saying his presence will only bolster the strength of their batting unit.

“Everyone in our dressing room felt good. I think playing such a big innings in only his third Test, and batting with the lower middle-order and lower order the way he did; sometimes even very experienced cricketers can't do that,” said Najmul.

“It felt very good, and I expect the same from him, that whenever he gets an opportunity, whenever he plays, he contributes like this. And we were looking for someone like that at number five or six who would bat for such a long time and I think if he continues this way it will be very good for our team,” he concluded.