'If we play well on the day, we will win' - Liton Das confident of a good start to CWC19
Bangladesh have improved considerably in multi-nation tournaments, having qualified for the quarter-finals of the World Cup 2015 and finishing as semi-finalists of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. The Mashrafe Mortaza led side will begin their campaign against South Africa at The Oval on Sunday, 2 June.
Wicket-keeper batsman Das said that Bangladesh will go into their first match with a mentality to win. "It’s not about this being the first match. Even if it was the last match, we would be thinking of winning because that is what we came here for. So we will play with the mentality to win."
Das admitted that South Africa would be a tough challenge first up but added that his side can win on any day if they play to the best of their abilities. “Nothing will be easy. South Africa has the bowling attack and the batsmen. They are used to these conditions and it will be challenging for us but it’s not like we won’t be able to do it. If we play well on that day, then we will win,” he told the reporters at the team hotel in London on Thursday.
Bangladesh lost to India by 95 runs in their second warm-up game after a complete wash-out against Pakistan but Das scored an impressive 73 against India. He stressed that he is prepared to bat in the middle order if the need arises.
"So far I have been opening the innings. Now I will have to grow this mentality [to play down the order] in the practice session so that I am prepared to bat anywhere."
Liton has batted in the top-order for most part of his career but has failed to deliver on a consistent basis for Bangladesh. The 24-year-old did very little of note after scoring his first ODI hundred against India in September last year.
He also said that he will look to utilize his opportunity in the best possible way whenever it comes. "It is not that only three cricketers are looking for a spot, all the 15 members are looking to get in. But you cannot play more than 11 cricketers, so naturally a few will be warming the bench. All I can say is that I will wait for my opportunity and try to utilise it to the best of my ability when it comes my way," he concluded.