Dhaka, July 30 -- Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto hopes a strong performance in next month's two-Test series in Australia will help secure more opportunities for his team to tour the country in the future.Bangladesh will leave Dhaka on Friday for their first Test tour of Australia since 2003, ending a 23-year gap between series."Our main goal is to earn respect by playing good cricket," Shanto told reporters on Thursday. "If we can make the series competitive, hopefully they will invite us again."

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While Bangladesh's long-term hopes hinge on building stronger ties with Australia, Shanto said the team's immediate focus remains on the two matches.

"We go into eve...