Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons said the emotional response to his side’s historic nine-wicket victory over Australia in Darwin reminded him of the same frenzy surrounding Argentina’s 2026 World Cup run among football fans in Bangladesh.

Speaking exclusively to Indian sports outlet RevSportz, the former West Indies all-rounder said the victory went beyond the result itself, reflecting the scale of emotion it generated across Bangladesh.

“We were comparing it a little bit to when Argentina won games in the World Cup because the streets in Dhaka were unbelievable during the World Cup. Yesterday, we were talking about it being similar to that. People celebrating, messages I got from people in Bangladesh, it is all something. Some people didn’t believe that it could happen, especially on this tour. I can imagine what it’s like for Bangladesh people because I know what it’s like for me,” Simmons said.

Bangladesh secured their first Test victory on Australian soil by nine wickets in a match that ended in just over three days, dominating virtually every session against the hosts.

Simmons said the messages he received after the victory offered a glimpse of what the result meant to Bangladeshis.

“People celebrating, messages I got from people in Bangladesh, it is all something. Some people didn’t believe that it could happen, especially on this tour. I can imagine what it’s like for Bangladesh people because I know what it’s like for me,” he said.

The victory came 23 years after Bangladesh last played a Test in Australia and was only their second win against the hosts in Test cricket.