Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan is hopeful of the team performing well in the upcoming Asia Cup Twenty20.
Nazmul has gained hope seeing the confidence in the newly appointed T20I captain Shakib al Hasan.
T20 cricket is considered their weakest format and the team have been struggling badly since the T20 World Cup last year while the 2-1 series defeat in the just concluded tour of Zimbabwe was one of the lowest of lows in T20Is for Bangladesh.
BCB following Bangladesh’s tour of the West Indies in June this year in a prompt decision relieved Mahmudullah from the captaincy role.
In Zimbabwe the charge in the first two matches was handed to Nurul Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain in the third.
Following the series and amid big tussle between the board and Shakib over the latter’s involvement with a betting firm, BCB named Shakib the T20I captain till the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia in October-November.
“I speak to Shakib and other cricketers on a regular basis. I asked him [Thursday] how he is feeling of the Asia Cup. He is confident like always. Shakib remains confident even in the toughest of times. We are in great need of having the confidence going into the Asia Cup,” said Nazmul to the media following his surprise visit at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Thursday while the cricketers were having their private practice sessions.
“We need to have the confidence that we can win. I do not have anything to say on win or loss but we must have the confidence and belief that we can win. I have been able to see that and I am happy about it. We will try to give out our best in the Asia Cup,” the BCB chief added.
Bangladesh played the final in the previous two Asia Cups – in 2016 and 2018 – and lost to India on both occasions.
This time however, the journey to the grand finale will be tough given the tournament format.
Bangladesh, in Group B, will begin their Asia Cup campaign against Afghanistan on August 30 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
In the second group phase game, Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka on September 1 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Top two teams from each group will proceed to the second phase of the tournament - Super Four round.
The top two teams in the Super Four points table will play the tournament finale at Dubai International Stadium on September 11.
