Confidence levels high for Champions Trophy - Bangladesh team preview
An exciting squad looking to build on their run to the semi-finals at the 2017 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy.
Bangladesh have been the perennial underdogs in International cricket, but somehow seem to always compete hard at the upper echelons of the sport. The team have been on a patchy record of late. In their recent tour of the West Indies, they drew the Test series 1-1, then were whitewashed in the three ODI contests, but came back to win the T20I series 3-0.
However, despite this recent volatile form, Nazmul Hossain Shanto will be leading the side with proven pedigree in the ICC Champions Trophy with a run to the semi-finals in the previous edition, in 2017.
This run included a memorable five-wicket victory over New Zealand as they made their way to the semi-finals of the tournament with centuries from Shakib Al-Hasan and Mahmudullah in Cardiff successfully chasing down a target of 266.
Nazmul's campaign will be assisted by senior players like Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim and the Bangladesh skipper is confident his team can perform well.
"We are going to the Champions Trophy to become champions," Shanto boldly claimed.
"All eight teams deserve to be champions in this tournament. They are all quality teams. I believe our team has the ability. No one will feel extra pressure."
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Bangladesh's Champions Trophy Squad:
Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana
Group Stage Fixtures:
20 February - Bangladesh vs India, Dubai
24 February - Bangladesh vs New Zealand, Rawalpindi
27 February - Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Rawalpindi
Bangladesh captain at 2022 Men's T20 World Cup
Player To Watch:
Mehidy Hasan Miraz:
A versatile all-rounder who has come into his own for Bangladesh, Mehidy had a Test five-wicket haul before he was 19. He has been in fine form lately with a good performance in the tour of West Indies, where he led the side in the One-Day format in the absence of Nazmul Hossain Shanto.
He scored 152 runs across three ODIs with an average of 50.66 striking at 84.91, being the fourth-highest run-getter in the series, and was handy with the ball as well. His bowling exploits were at their best in the T20Is where he was spectacular with 8 wickets in three matches, which included a brilliant 4-13 off his four overs at an economy rate of 3.25.
His performances in the Test format were also impressive, scoring 146 runs across two Test matches at an average of 36.5.
He will be key to bolstering Bangladesh’s chances in the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy.
Mahmud Ullah at his best
On 9 March, 2015, Mahmudullah scored Bangladesh's first-ever ICC Men's Cricket World Cup century and helped set the platform for a famous win over England.