Bangladesh refused to let fear dictate their destiny. After an impressive showing on the opening day of the two-match Test series against Australia, expectations grew across the country that the visitors could make a statement on Australian soil. Yet, as the days progressed, a familiar sense of apprehension crept in — a nagging feeling that the mighty Australians were bound to strike back.

After the third day's play, with the hosts trailing by 67 runs and six wickets in hand, the public was split. Some believed Bangladesh could win by an innings; others feared that if Australia established a lead of 100 to 150 runs, the visitors would crumble under pressure. The concern was not without precedent — Bangladesh had previously lost Test matches despite being in a commanding position.

Mahmud: 'I was never confused; I was confident'

Former national skipper Khaled Mahmud, who led Bangladesh during their last tour of Australia in 2003, admitted there were concerns in certain quarters but insisted he never shared those doubts.

"Some people were saying that if they set a 150-run target, Bangladesh wouldn't be able to win," Mahmud told Cricbuzz. "But I was not doubtful. From what I observed of the wicket, I didn't see any reason Bangladesh wouldn't perform well. Sure, there was bounce, but bounce alone wasn't a problem for us — only pace combined with bounce is tricky, and this pitch didn't really have that pace."

"I was never confused; I was confident. I believed if we could set a target above 200, Bangladesh could win the Test match. And that's exactly what happened. Besides, there's always pressure on the opponent too, right? Our guys are bowling really well now. We used to struggle because our bowling line-up was weak, but that's not the case anymore. We have a strong bowling attack now, unlike in the past," he added.

A new era, not a repeat of 2003

Mahmud was keen to draw a distinction between the current side and the one he led in 2003, emphasising how far Bangladesh have come. "You can't really compare the 2003 Australian team with the current one. That 2003 team were the world champions. Back then, Bangladesh was an inexperienced team, but today's players are far more mature, experienced, and confident," he said.

"I wasn't downplaying Australia, but comparing this team to the classic 2003 squad isn't fair — back then, even after taking five wickets, you had Adam Gilchrist coming in! But some people just refuse to acknowledge the progress that we are making day by day," he added.

Tamim Iqbal: 'We played a perfect Test match'

Tamim Iqbal, former national skipper and current Bangladesh Cricket Board president, echoed Mahmud's sentiments, expressing delight at what he described as a near-flawless team performance.

"I think we played a perfect Test match," Tamim told Cricbuzz on Sunday. "All the players contributed, and for me that is the biggest thing as it proves that we are growing as a Test nation." His firm tone suggested it was high time the public put their faith in the cricketers rather than persistently doubting their talent and skill.

Looking ahead to the second Test

Following the historic triumph, Bangladesh will head into the second Test in McKay with a significant boost in confidence. More importantly, the victory is expected to instil much-needed belief among those who have long viewed the team through a lens of apprehension — a reminder that this Bangladesh side is no longer the fragile outfit of old, but a team capable of standing tall against the world's best.