We are going there to be the champions: Shanto

In the last edition of the Champions Trophy, held in 2017, Bangladesh reached the semi-finals. Eight years later, the tournament is set to take place in a hybrid model across Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. Bangladesh will compete in the ICC event under the leadership of Najmul Hossain Shanto. Despite the tournament being tough with eight teams, the Bangladesh captain is confident about winning the title.

Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Taskin Ahmed, Soumya Sarkar, Mustafizur Rahman, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz—these six cricketers were part of Bangladesh's squad in both of their last two Champions Trophy campaigns. Eight years ago, Bangladesh were knocked out in the semi-finals by India, and this time, they find themselves in the same group as them. Alongside India, the group also includes hosts Pakistan and New Zealand. India were the runners-up in the most recent ICC ODI-format event, the 2023 World Cup. Meanwhile, in the ongoing tri-series in Pakistan, New Zealand have already secured a spot in the final by winning two matches. As for Pakistan, their dominance in home ODIs over the last two to three years is evident from the statistics.

For Shanto and his team, advancing to the semi-finals from this group is already a daunting challenge. However, the Bangladesh captain remains highly confident about the tournament. Speaking at a press conference at the BCB Media Centre in Mirpur this afternoon, Shanto said, "We are not just going there to participate; our ambitions are greater. We are moving forward with the goal of becoming champions. I am not saying this just for the sake of it—we truly believe we have the capability."

The Bangladesh team has undergone rigorous preparations over the past five days, particularly training in double shifts on two occasions to fine-tune their skills. The experience of playing on good pitches in the BPL has further boosted the batters' confidence. Many of them have scored runs, which will serve as a source of mental strength on the big stage.

For the bowlers, however, the challenge was not as straightforward. Taking wickets in the BPL was tough, but that experience has helped them mature further. Shanto stated, "Our bowlers have figured out how to take wickets. They understand what kind of bowling is required in different situations. As a result, they are now much more confident. Every member of the team is prepared to win."

During the group stage of the 2023 ODI World Cup, Bangladesh suffered heavy defeats against all three of their upcoming group-stage opponents—India, Pakistan, and New Zealand. Although this edition of the Champions Trophy will be played in Asian conditions, Bangladesh's recent performances do not work in their favour. According to Shanto, there is no alternative to hard work in order to achieve something remarkable in the tournament. The Bangladesh captain said, "The three teams we will be facing are all formidable opponents. If we want to perform well, we must work extremely hard."