Bangladesh captain Shanto confident despite Ponting’s doubts
Bangladesh team for official CT photoshoot. Cricfrenzy
The former Australian captain recently stated on ICC Review that Afghanistan has a better chance than Bangladesh in the tournament. However, Shanto had a short but firm response: “I have no opinion on that.”
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As Bangladesh prepares for the tournament, Shanto remains optimistic. Speaking at a press conference in Mirpur, he outlined the team's ambition: “We are going with the goal of becoming champions.”
Bangladesh last played an ODI in December against West Indies and will start their Champions Trophy campaign on February 20 against India.
They are placed in a tough group alongside Pakistan and New Zealand, making qualification for the next round a big challenge.
Despite Ponting’s skepticism, Shanto believes that all eight teams in the tournament are capable of winning.
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“Every team in this tournament has the quality to be champions, and I believe we have that capability too,” he said.
Bangladesh's preparation has not been ideal, as they have not played an ODI since December. Meanwhile, their group-stage opponents are actively engaged in international cricket. Head coach Phil Simmons had earlier admitted that the team hasn’t had the “best preparation.”
However, Shanto remains confident in the squad’s readiness, especially after their performances in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
“The BPL wickets were good, and we expect even better conditions in the Champions Trophy. Our batters have been preparing well, and our bowlers have also done a great job. We still have six to seven days to fine-tune our plans,” he added.
With the tournament just around the corner, Bangladesh is heading in with high hopes despite external doubts. Whether they can prove their critics wrong remains to be seen.
