Bangladesh have been placed in Group B, where they will face Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong — a line-up that many are calling the tournament’s “Group of Death.”
Despite the tough draw, Bangladesh pacer Khaled Ahmed remains optimistic about the team’s chances. In a recent media interaction, Khaled stated that he believes Bangladesh have what it takes to reach the final.
“We truly believe we are a team capable of playing in the final of the Asia Cup,” said Khaled. “If we can win the first two or three matches in the group stage, the path to the final will become clearer.”
While Khaled has been a regular in red-ball cricket, he rarely features in limited-overs formats, where competition among pacers is fierce. The likes of Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, and Shoriful Islam are all in the mix for fast-bowling spots.
Khaled welcomed the competition, saying it only pushes him to improve.
“Competition is good — it’s positive for any country. When you're in a competitive environment, your drive to work harder increases. Personally, I’m working on improving my fitness to compete with the others. It motivates me. If I fall behind, I could fall far behind, so I try to stay ahead.”
The entire Asia Cup will be held in the United Arab Emirates. Bangladesh will begin their campaign on September 11 against Hong Kong, followed by matches against Sri Lanka on September 13 and Afghanistan on September 16.
The Super Four stage will begin on September 20, with the tournament opener being played between Afghanistan and Hong Kong on September 9.
Meanwhile, India and Pakistan have been drawn in the same group, with their high-voltage clash scheduled for September 14.
