How many captains have come in Bangladesh cricket, and how many have passed away. Success came from the hands of many, while many could not contribute anything to the team. Nazmul Hossain Shanto is entering the field with the challenge of taking Bangladesh cricket to another height on Monday. He is determined to face the challenges ahead and bring out the best in the 22 yard fight.
Another battle against Sri Lanka begins on the green carpet of Sylhet. This series will start the busy season of international series in Bangladesh this year. Shanto has remained calm from this series even though he has handled the duties of Bangladesh as a caretaker for the past few years. When he goes to toss on Monday, he must be playing something else in the back of his mind. He came to the pre-match press conference on Sunday and informed about his plans for the Bangladesh team.
The full series against the Lankans begins with a T20I. The opposing team is composed of experienced-youngsters. Shanto said that he is not thinking at all about who is in the Lankan team. His whole attention was on himself, ‘not thinking separately. All the players in the team have developed their spin game. Each player needs to have a different plan. We are not making a batting group thinking about any bowler separately. I don’t think it will be too difficult for us. There will be challenges, everyone is ready to take the challenge.’
Face-to-face match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka now means more excitement, more madness. Starting with the 2018 Nidahas Trophy. After that, every time the two teams met. There is excitement in all the matches. Like Sri Lankan coach Chris Silverwood, Bangladesh captain Shanta also doesn’t want to dwell on the old past, saying, ‘I’m not thinking about things off the field, what happened in the past, happened. I think it will be a very good series. Both teams will play to win. We are doing our job, doing whatever it takes to win.’
Shanta also said, ‘I don’t feel pressure. We are focusing on our game. Thinking about what we have in hand, what we can control, we will do that. Pressure… every international series is pressure. That is for us, for the opposing team as well. Everyone is mature enough to handle them.’
A full month and a half of domestic cricket in Bangladesh ended a day ago. Bangladeshi cricketers have to participate in international cricket in two days. Just as there are challenges of playing under constant pressure, there are also advantages of playing in the twenty-over format straight from the BPL to international cricket. Shant sees everything positively.
Shanto said, ‘It is very important that we are starting again with T20 right after such a big tournament. Planning will be easy for everyone, as we have played this version. There is 100% faith to win the series.
On the other hand, he gave a positive answer about the pressure of continuous play, ‘No, no. I think Bangladesh cricket is in the place where it is now, everyone maintains that way mentally, physically. I don’t think anyone cares or is tired of it.’
As spinner Alis Al Islam is injured, Zaker Ali Anik got his place in the squad instead. It was expected that Saifuddin, who performed well in the BPL, will be included in the team after Alis was dropped. But Zaker has been taken. He also performed well for Comilla Victorians. Mainly because the squad lacks middle-order batsmen, Zaker has been picked.
“We have enough spinners,” said Shanto as the reason for taking Zaker. Rishad has played very well. The reason for taking the batsman Zaker Ali is that I feel the team needs a middle order batsman. Selectors, coaches all felt that another middle order batter was needed. That’s why Zaker was taken.’
On the other hand, Shanta’s reasoning behind Saif’s exclusion is, ‘Saifuddin’s case seems to have returned very well after coming back from injury. But playing such a series after coming back from injury, who were our physios, everyone felt it would be risky. Hope it stays like this, DPL is ahead. Then there will be a chance.’
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