||Desk Report||

Despite playing two of the last three finals of the Asia Cup, Bangladesh failed to win their coveted trophy. They will once again vie to be the continental champions this time when they start their campaign on September 15 in the UAE.

Mohammad Mithun, who earned a recall ahead of the tournament, has stressed the need to have a good start by the Tigers in a bid to lift their first-ever Asia Cup trophy.

For now, Bangladesh will be focusing on advancing to the Super Four by being among the top two teams of their group which also has Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in it.

“Bangladesh’s chances depend on momentum. If we get good starts and stay confident as a team and if we clear the first hurdle then it would be easier.

“Each result depends on a single day's game. Whoever plays better on a particular day, will win. So, we will try to have the momentum on our side and play at our best,” said Mithun.

The progress that Bangladesh have made in ODIs over the past few years is also offering a ray of hope to the wicketkeeper-batsman. Mithun, however, is aware of the fact that the newcomers in the team will have to perform alongside the core group comprising Mashrafe, Shakib, Tamim, Mushfiq, and Mahmudullah, if they want a positive outcome.

“I am certainly hopeful, because irrespective of their performance in other formats, we play better in ODIs. Bangladesh have been doing well for the past four years.