Tigers’ Vice Captain Shakib Al Hasan talks about the team’s preparations and expectations for their Asia Cup venture. Watch the Star Live video for Shakib’s full interview.

The Asia Cup is nearing the end of the build-up stage and on the verge of getting down to business with the tournament opener between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka slated for Saturday, but there was a bit of breathing space on Thursday as it was the first day of the Arabic New Year, and hence a public holiday in the UAE.

There is no shortage of confidence in the Tigers' camp in the UAE as the Mashrafe Bin Mortaza-led side have been preparing under hot and humid conditions with the aim of achieving a new milestone in the Asia Cup.

As head coach Steve Rhodes worked with the Tigers in the nets before a fielding session at the ICC Academy ground in Dubai yesterday, opener Tamim Iqbal and pacer Rubel Hossain practised at the outer nets of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium indoor premises.

Sri Lanka Test captain Dinesh Chandimal was withdrawn Monday from the 16-member squad for the Asian Cup because of an injury during a recent domestic tournament, the board said.

Pakistan will open their Asia Cup campaign on the second day of the tournament against Hong Kong. They are taking the match against

The Bangladesh Cricket Board and the Asian Cricket Council yesterday announced the schedule for the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup, which starts on September 29 in Bangladesh.

Even before a ball has been bowled in the Asia Cup, the Bangladesh team have been considerably disadvantaged due to what can only be called mismanagement.

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed, who led his side at the UAE on many occasions has said that it will be difficult to bat under lights at the Asia Cup tournament as the fast bowlers get more swing in humid conditions but slower wickets mean that spinners too will play a part.

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal and pace bowler Rubel Hossain did not fly out with the team to the United Arab Emirates, where the Tigers will participate in the Asia Cup, yesterday due to visa complications.

With injury concerns looming over Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, arguably two of the most important seniors of the side, Bangladesh's batting department will bank on another experienced campaigners in Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim during the Asia Cup.

It has been two years since West Indies legend Courtney Walsh was appointed as the Tigers' bowling coach. Although expectations

The Tigers will leave Dhaka today to take part in the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates with high hopes .

With just a week to go for the Asia Cup in UAE the selectors are still in the dark about Bangladesh Test and T20I skipper Shakib Al Hasan's fitness situation.

ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza knows the pitfalls into which Bangladeshi cricket teams often unwittingly stumble. He is also one who keeps expectations low before series, so it was no surprise that his feet were planted firmly on the ground when he talked about Bangladesh's chances in the Asia Cup in the pre-tournament press conference in Mirpur yesterday.

Left-handed batsman Mominul Haque has been included in Bangladesh's Asia Cup squad as backup to Tamim Iqbal and Nazmul Hossain Shanto, who have injury concerns.

Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was asked whether he was happy with the squad he was given for the Asia Cup starting in UAE in September, with the undertone of the question perhaps being the absence of ODI regular Sabbir Rahman who was banned for six months due to disciplinary issues.

Will Liton Das be able to seize his opportunity and solve a long-standing problem?

With the revolving door of juniors coming in and going out of the Bangladesh national team, Abu Hider's is not a name that pops readily to mind when thinking of bright prospects.

To be led by Sarfraz Ahmed, Pakistan have named a 16-man squad for the 2018 Asia Cup set to begin in the United Arab Emirates from 15 September.