The Bangladesh team is performing a practice session at SBNCS today in Mirpur, Dhaka. Photo: Bangladesh Cricket - The Tigers Facebook page

DHAKA, Feb 12, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto brimmed with confidence about his side's ability in the upcoming Champions Trophy, saying that they will head to the tournament with an aim to become champions.

"We are aiming to become champions," said Shanto while speaking at a press conference followed by a team photoshoot for the Champions Trophy today at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Eight best teams will participate into the tournament, to be held in Pakistan and UAE later this month. 

"All the eight teams, playing this tournament, deserve to be champions. We are amongst those eight teams. These eight teams have made them available for the tournament, meaning they have the quality. I believe our team has the ability to materialize the goal we have set."

Bangladesh moved to the semifinal of the last Champions Trophy in England in 2017, their best result so far in the ICC organized tournament. 

Since then they have established them one of the giants in ODI format albeit they didn't have any ICC trophy to show. 

Australian legend Rickey Ponting recently in the ICC Review said that he doesn't see much chance of Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy. He rather rated Afghanistan better than Bangladesh.

When asked, Shanto looked unfazed about Ponting's comment, saying that, "I have no comment."

Shanto stood by his statement further by saying that the bold target won't put pressure on them. 

"I don't think anyone feels extra pressure because of the target we set," he said, adding that everyone is working with same goal. 

"Because, everyone wants this, everyone wants this with heart and soul and everyone in the dressing room believes that we have that ability."

He said: "We don't know what would happen at the end. But I think we are working hard and we've been honest about our goal. Every player believes that we can live up to the expectation."

But the preparation for the Champions Trophy looked not ideal. After the BPL, the Bangladesh have no ODI matches scheduled before the Champions Trophy.
 
Bangladesh are drawn in Group A along with India, Pakistan and New Zealand and all these three opponents are busy in playing ODI cricket for the Champions Trophy preparation.

"There is a slight difference in terms of the format. But I think the way the batters played in BPL, they looked to be in good touch. The wicket was good in BPL like how the ICC prepare pitch for its tournament," Shanto remarked, playing down fact that they haven't taken ideal preparation. 

"The batters have prepared well. It is important to convert the 50/60 runs to 100/120. The bowlers have also bowled well in placid deck. We still have six-seven days for the tournament so we can figure it out well."

He added: "The wicket in the tournament (BPL) was good and the conditions (Dubai and Pakistan) we will be playing, we expect even better wickets there."

Terming his side well balanced in all aspects, Shanto said they can give any team a torrid time.

"We are well-balanced now, with a strong pace attack and quality wrist spin. We can beat any team on our day," he said.
 
Discussing the challenges of the tournament, Shanto expects high-scoring games in Pakistan with 300 plus totals. He also said that the Dubai could see scores around 260-280. 

"We will analyze and set our targets accordingly. I think we have the weapons to thrive on any wicket. Just we need to play our best cricket," he said.

Bangladesh will begin the tournament by taking on India in Dubai on February 20. Thereafter the Tigers will face off New Zealand and hosts Pakistan on February 24 and 27 respectively in Rawalpindi.