Shakib downplays expectations

Although there have been many times over the years when the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and cricketers have not seen eye-to-eye, it seems they are aligned in the same direction when it comes to playing down expectations before starting their T20 World Cup campaign.

There have been persistent questions about Bangladesh's performances, especially in the shortest format of the game. Their last T20 World Cup campaign even saw Bangladesh lose to Scotland in the qualifying stage before the Tigers went on to lose all their Super 12 matches.

But despite getting a year to change things, the BCB remained clueless about chalking out the areas they needed to work on. The board instead was busy chopping and changing, from the coaching staff to the team, or dropping senior players like former captain Mahmudullah Riyad from the World Cup squad.

BCB president Nazmul Hassan had tempered expectations a month ahead of the mega-event, saying the board was planning drastic changes and focusing on the next World Cup.

"Our main focus is the next World Cup, not this one. You can't change everything overnight. We are planning long-term and trying to prepare a squad for the next World Cup. Even if the upcoming World Cup does not go well for us, I won't be disappointed. We are hoping to form a squad in the next six to eight months," Hassan told media last month.

Interestingly, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan echoed those sentiments during the 'Captain's Media Day' at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne yesterday, which involved all 16 captains.

Shakib very matter-of-factly raised a very alarming issue, quipping about how he had not played a T20I in Australia during his 15-year international career and that the Tigers had never toured down under to play a T20I series.

"I think we have a very exciting team. Most of them are new, so it will be a great experience for them. All of us are playing a T20I in Australia for the first time, including myself. So that's new," Shakib said.

His remark stunned even the host running the media session, prompting Shakib to reply: "Yes. And I've been playing for 15 years."

His comments may also reflect the confidence levels of the team ahead of the mega event while also serving to again temper expectations.

The Tigers arrived in Brisbane today after completing a tri-nation series in New Zealand featuring the hosts and Pakistan, which served as their final preparations ahead of the T20 World Cup. The Tigers lost all four matches on that tour.

Shakib also expressed satisfaction over the team's preparations for the World Cup.

"I think we prepared really well. We were in Christchurch, where we played four games against two very good sides. So, we know the things we need to do to perform well here in Australia. And I think we are prepared enough to do well," he said.

The Tigers are scheduled to play two warm-up matches against Afghanistan on October 17 and South Africa on October 19 before beginning their World Cup campaign with a Super 12 fixture against the runners-up from Group A on October 24 in Hobart.