Bangladesh’s skipper, Shakib Al Hasan, expressed on Sunday that his team’s primary objective in the upcoming ICC World Cup would be to display their proficiency in the 50-over format to the global audience.
Shakib discussed his aspirations for the World Cup and his role as the ODI captain, marking his first commentary on these matters since reassuming leadership following Tamim Iqbal’s resignation.
“Well, it’s not something new to me,” Shakib remarked about his ODI captaincy during an interview conducted on Sunday, coinciding with the Lanka Premier League match between Galle Titans and Jaffna Kings at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
On August 11, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced that Shakib had been appointed as the ODI captain for Bangladesh, a role he will undertake during the upcoming Asia Cup and World Cup tournaments.
Scheduled for August-September, the Asia Cup will take place in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, while the World Cup, set for November-December, is slated to be held in India.
This marks Shakib’s second stint as the ODI captain, having previously led Bangladesh in 50 ODIs from 2009 to 2017. Additionally, the versatile all-rounder currently holds the captaincy for the Tigers in Tests and T20Is.
When questioned about his goals for the forthcoming World Cup, Shakib responded, “Our team embraces the significant challenge of demonstrating the strides we’ve made over the past four years. This presents a wonderful opportunity for us to excel in the World Cup.”
“We’re a highly skilled team, performing exceptionally in the white-ball format. It’s now our moment to exhibit our capabilities to the world,” Shakib further emphasized.
Shakib delivered a frugal performance, taking one wicket for just 13 runs, and contributed with two runs in his team's convincing seven-wicket victory over Jaffna Kings.
