Dhaka: Bangladesh Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed confidence in his team’s potential for the upcoming Champions Trophy, asserting their aim to secure the championship title. “We are aiming to become champions,” Shanto stated during a press conference and team photoshoot at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the tournament will feature eight top teams competing in Pakistan and the UAE later this month. Shanto emphasized that all participating teams have the capacity to win, and Bangladesh is among them. He noted that their previous best performance was reaching the semifinals in the 2017 Champions Trophy in England, establishing themselves as a formidable force in ODI cricket, despite not having secured an ICC trophy yet.
Australian legend Ricky Ponting recently remarked in the ICC Review that Bangladesh may not be a strong contender in the tournament, favoring Afghanistan instead. Unperturbed by Ponting’s comments, Shanto refrained from commenting and reiterated that their ambitious target does not add extra pressure. He assured that every team member shares the same goal and believes in their capability to achieve it.
Despite a lack of ODI matches following the BPL, Shanto expressed confidence in the team’s preparation. Bangladesh is grouped with India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, who are actively playing ODIs in preparation for the tournament. Shanto highlighted the good form of their batters in the BPL and the quality of the pitches, which resemble those prepared for ICC tournaments.
Shanto described his team as well-balanced, with a robust pace attack and quality wrist spin, capable of challenging any team. He anticipates high-scoring games in Pakistan, with scores over 300, while matches in Dubai might see totals between 260 and 280. Bangladesh’s tournament journey begins against India in Dubai on February 20, followed by matches against New Zealand and hosts Pakistan on February 24 and 27 in Rawalpindi.