Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh National Cricket squad will leave the city for the United Arab Emirates today to take part in the ICC Champions Trophy. Bangladesh will take on India in their first Group-A match of the ICC Champions Trophy on February 20 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates.
A total of eight teams splitting into two groups will take part in the first phase of ICC Champions Trophy, one of the most prestigious cricket competition of the whole world. Bangladesh, India, New Zealand and Pakistan are in Group-A, while Australia, England, Afghanistan and South Africa are in Group-B. Bangladesh will meet New Zealand in their second Group-A match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Pakistan on February 24. The Tigers will face Pakistan in their third Group-A match at the same venue on February 27.
Top two teams from each group will get tickets of the semi-finals. The first semi-final will be held on March 4, while the second semi-final will take place on March 5.
The winners of the two semi-finals will face each other in the final on March 9.
Before taking part in the ICC Champions Trophy, Bangladesh Cricket squad took part in their practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in the capital’s Mirpur, and BCB-NCA Ground, which is adjacent to the SBNCS.
The three opponent teams of Bangladesh in Group-A are tough sides. So, it will be a tough task to win against them. Despite the stronger opponents in the Group-A Captain of Bangladesh squad Najmul Hossain Shanto has a target to be the champions of the mega event.
Shanto said to a local website, ” We are going there to be the champions in the meet. I don’t feel any extra pressure. The participating eight teams deserve to be the champions of the gala competition. All the participating teams are quality side.
I believe we have the capability. All the members of our squad want to be the champions in the tournament. They believe that they have such kind of ability.”
Shanto also said, ” We worked hard and also we practiced sincerely. Everybody believes they can reach their target.”
It may be mentioned that India’s key bowler Jasprit Bumrah could not play in the Champions Trophy as he ruled out from the tournament due to injury.
The Captain of Team Tigers said, ” We don’t think about any particular player. India are strong side. They are quality team. Not only India, New Zealand and Pakistan are also balanced sides. We have to play against our opponent teams giving hard fight.”
Bangladesh Cricket squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan and Nahid Rana.
