The top eight ODI teams will compete for glory in Pakistan and the UAE starting on February 19 in the Champions Trophy 2025. While some teams have performed admirably in 50-over internationals, others have recently struggled in the same format. Bangladesh is one member of the latter group.
Najmul Hossain Shanto, a left-handed top-order batsman who has been waiting since November 2024 to return to international cricket, is expected to lead the team. Since 2023, Bangladesh’s record in 41 ODIs has been everything than stellar, with 24 defeats. Shanto, on the other hand, believes his squad has a good chance of winning the event and views them as one of the top contenders.
“All eight clubs deserve to win this competition, and we are heading to the Champions Trophy to do so.
All of them are excellent teams. I think our group is capable. No one will experience more stress. Everyone sincerely believes in their own ability and aspires to become champions. What Allah has predetermined for our destiny is unknown to us. We are putting in a lot of effort and trying our best. I think we can accomplish our objective,” Shanto said.
The captain expressed confidence in the 15 players selected for the competition when asked about the absence of Shakib Al Hasan, who was not included in the squad and was suspended from bowling because of an improper bowling action. A few other important players, including Litton Das and Tamim Iqbal, are also absent from the team in addition to Shakib.
Naturally, we will miss him, but I’m not sure why this issue is being raised when everyone is aware of the truth and has heard it from numerous players. We shall definitely miss Shakib bhai. Had he been present, it would have been fantastic. There have been numerous responses to this query. I don’t believe discussing this before to a competition is appropriate. Who will replace Shakib on the team, then? “Shakib’s role must be played by whoever is given the responsibility,” Shanto said.
“I am very happy and confident with the 15 players in the squad,” he stated. “Anyone who plays has the ability to win a match single-handedly.” He continued.
Regarding his expectations for the pitches in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, Shanto stated that it will be crucial to swiftly adapt to the conditions and score more than 300 runs when batting first.
“I anticipate that Pakistani pitches will provide more over 300 wickets. We must score these kinds of runs if we bat first. We will have to defend such scores even while we are defending. Conditions in Dubai change with the seasons. Nevertheless, I predict scores between 260 and 280. Although it’s difficult to forecast precise statistics, that’s how things have always been. We’ll determine how many runs we need to limit the opposition to or how many runs are required on a certain day.”
Bangladesh will travel to Rawalpindi for their next two matches, against New Zealand and Pakistan, on February 24 and 27, respectively, after playing their tournament opener against India in Dubai on February 20.
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