As the cricket world gears up for the ODI World Cup 2023 in India later this year, Shakib Al Hasan, the newly reinstated ODI skipper for Bangladesh, believes it's the opportune moment for the Tigers to showcase their capabilities on the global stage. Shakib's return to captaincy follows the exit of Tamim Iqbal from the leadership role.
With an experience of leading the Bangladesh side in 50 ODIs under his belt, Shakib highlighted that captaincy feels familiar. Notably, during the 2011 World Cup when Bangladesh co-hosted the prestigious event, it was Shakib at the helm.
These sentiments were shared during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 encounter between Galle Titans and Jaffna Kings at the iconic R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Rising to the Occasion
In an insightful mid-innings conversation with presenter Ridhima Pathak, Shakib stated, "Captaincy is nothing new to me. It's a great opportunity for us to excel in the World Cup. I genuinely believe we are a formidable side, and it's crucial for us now to demonstrate our prowess to the world."
He further elaborated on the challenge ahead, mentioning, "It's a tremendous challenge for our squad to exhibit the progress we've made over the past four years."
In the lead-up to the World Cup, Bangladesh showcased commendable form, finishing third in the points tally in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League. They trailed only behind cricketing giants, New Zealand and England. At a certain juncture, Bangladesh even occupied the top position before descending.
The Tigers secured their place among the top eight teams, ensuring direct qualification for the 2023 World Cup. During this qualifying journey, Litton Das too had the opportunity to lead the side. Before they plunge into the World Cup extravaganza, starting on October 5, Bangladesh has the Asia Cup on their itinerary, jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
In preparation, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced their squad on Saturday, August 12. Promising young talents, Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Shamim Hossain Patowary, earned their spots, while the seasoned campaigner, Mahmudullah, was left out.
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