The newly named Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan stated the team's goal is to get ready for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia, which starts on August 27, not to perform any miracles. The Asia Cup starts here on August 27.
After a dismal run in the game's shortest format, Bangladesh will compete in the Asia Cup. Shakib has been given another chance to captain the team after Mahmudullah's three-year reign came to an end earlier this year.
The six-team tournament pits Shakib's team against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Group B, and the all-around player has modest expectations for the continental competition.
I have no objectives. These are the preparations for the T20 World Cup, and my main goal is for us to do well there, Shakib was cited by the ICC as saying. We are living in a fool's kingdom if someone believes that they can change things in one or two days or that someone else will come and change them.
The 35-year-old stated, "If you can think practically, our true growth will be noticed when the team actually performs well at the World Cup in three months."
Since the T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman last year, Bangladesh has only won two 20-over games, and their most recent series victory in the shortest format of the game occurred over a year ago against New Zealand at home. While Bangladesh has never won the Asia Cup, they have placed second three times, in 2012, 2016 and 2018, each time with Shakib playing a part.
The veteran player said the younger players would need to exercise patience this time around and that he is not expecting any miracles.
We are far behind in this version from that point on, so we have no choice but to make a fresh start. "See, we first played this type of version (format) in 2006; since then, we have not had good results, except for the Asia Cup final. Therefore, we have no choice but to make a new start. When a baby starts walking, (the first) steps are very difficult but gradually things become easier, and I hope that we will also be able to start walking step by step like a baby
On August 30 in Sharjah, Bangladesh takes on Afghanistan in their opening match in the Asia Cup. On September 1 in Dubai, they play Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh squad: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Anamul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Ebadot Hossain, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Taskin Ahmed.