Md Sabbir Hossain :
The ICC Champions Trophy is knocking at the door. ICC Champions Trophy 2025, one of the most prestigious cricket meet of the whole world which is a 50-over-a-side affair.
Bangladesh have directly qualified in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, one of the gala extravaganza in the global arena.
A total of eight teams splitting into two groups are taking part in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be held in a hybrid model. Most of the matches will be held in the different venues of Pakistan. But India’s matches will be held at the neutral venues.
That means India’s matches will take place at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates.
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and New Zealand are in Group-A, while Australia, England, South Africa and Afghanistan are in Group-B.
Bangladesh will start their ICC Champions Trophy campaign on February 20. Bangladesh will face India in their first Group-A match at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The Tigers will face New Zealand in their second Group-A match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Pakistan on February 24.
Bangladesh will take on Pakistan in their third Group-A match at the same venue on February 27.
Bangladesh have a good news that India’s key weapon Jasprit Bumrah will not play against Bangladesh as Bumrah has been ruled out from the tournament due to injury.
Bangladesh will miss the service of ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan as the left-arm spinner cannot bowl in any standard tournament due to his banned bowling action. Bangladesh will not get service of dashing opener Tamim Iqbal as the southpaw announced his retirement before the tournament.
Besides, opener Litton Das was not included in the squad as he was out of form.
Captain of Bangladesh Cricket team Najmul Hossain Shanto failed to show a notable performance in the recently concluded Dutch-Bangla Bank Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket. But the BPL Cricket was a 20-over-a-side tournament.
India are always favourites. New Zealand are also tough side. Pakistan will get advantage as they are the hosts. On the other hand, Bangladesh played ODI matches in last December against West Indies in the Caribbean Island . They tasted a 3-0 defeat to the Caribbeans. But the Tigers won the T20I series against West Indies there.
Bangladesh have a target to play at least semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy. But it is not an easy task. If Bangladesh want to play in the last four, Bangladesh have to win at least two matches of Group-A. Bangladesh’s have promising opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim, experienced opener Soumya Sarkar. The Tigers have experienced batters Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad.
Bangladesh’s bowling side is up to the mark. Experienced pacer Taskin Ahmed, promising pacer Nahid Rana can do anything against any side. Besides, Bangladesh have all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who can full-fill the desire of Bangladesh Cricket team in absence of Shakib Al Hasan.
