Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has emphasized that his team will not be conducting any experiments during the upcoming five-match series against Zimbabwe, despite viewing it as a crucial platform for their preparations for the T20 World Cup.
The T20 World Cup, considered the third-largest cricket event, is scheduled to take place in West Indies and the USA from June 1 to June 29. Alongside the five matches against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh will also engage in three additional T20 Internationals against hosts USA later this month.
With the aim of addressing their weaknesses and technical challenges, Bangladesh is eager to utilize these eight matches before the World Cup. Shanto stated, “The World Cup is approaching rapidly, so this series serves as our preparation ground. What truly matters is how we equip ourselves and build our confidence.”
“Although our focus remains on preparing for the World Cup, our primary objective is to win the series. Typically, teams tend to experiment during preparations, but I believe there’s no need for experimentation as the 15 players selected for this squad are more than capable of defeating Zimbabwe. I believe this series will provide us with valuable insights into our shortcomings and areas needing improvement.”
The selectors have opted to rest Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman for the first three matches. Shanto mentioned that with the inclusion of these two players, the World Cup squad will be finalized. He indicated that unless there are injuries or unforeseen circumstances, the squad is unlikely to undergo any major changes.
“The squad selected for this series is essentially our World Cup squad. Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman will join later, and perhaps one or two changes might occur, but I believe it’s essentially the same squad, barring injuries or other issues,” he explained. He also highlighted that Saifuddin’s return after 18 months will strengthen Bangladesh’s lower order.
“The lower order’s performance is crucial in T20 cricket. Our lower-order batsmen – Taskin, Shoriful, Rishad – are capable batsmen, and Saifuddin’s return will further bolster our lower order,” Shanto remarked.
However, Shanto cautioned that lower-order strength doesn’t grant players the liberty to bat recklessly. “Every player has a specific role within the team, and it’s important to fulfill that role effectively,” he stressed. “While there’s freedom to play shots without inhibition, each player has a specific role. Contributions from the lower order in the form of boundaries are always beneficial, but it’s important to play smartly according to the situation.”
