• Sportzyverse
• T20 World Cup 2024
• 05/05/2024
• 0 Comments

Bangladesh cricket star Shakib Al Hasan has expressed concerns about the team’s preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. The national team is currently participating in a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe at home and will face the United States in Houston before the start of the World Cup in June. However, Shakib believes that the team’s preparation could have been better organised.

Limited Exposure Against Top Sides

Shakib highlighted that the team’s current preparation could be better because they are not facing some of the top teams in world cricket. Although the series against the US will help the team acclimate to conditions in the country, he noted that more than the experience might be required for an event of such magnitude.

“It will be wrong if we think about the World Cup by considering our performance against Zimbabwe and the USA,” Shakib said. “World Cup will be played in a different place and the more we can handle pressure, the higher our chances of doing well.”

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Bangladesh had a mixed performance in the last T20 World Cup in 2022. They earned their first win in the primary phase against the Netherlands and followed it up with another victory against Zimbabwe, giving them a shot at reaching the semi-final. Shakib believes the team must aim for three wins in the group stage to surpass their previous benchmark.

DPL Format Criticised Amid Heatwave

Bangladesh is currently experiencing a severe heatwave, prompting Shakib to criticise the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for organising the Super League phase of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL), the premier List A tournament, in a 50-over format rather than T20.

“It would have been better if the Super League [DPL] was played in the T20 format. It is inhuman to be in the ground for the whole day under this heat. It could have been handled more responsibly. We have the T20 World Cup ahead, and it would have been helpful for the national team,” Shakib added.

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Despite concerns about preparation, Shakib remains hopeful that Bangladesh can perform well in the World Cup. The team is placed in Group D alongside Sri Lanka, South Africa, the Netherlands, and Nepal. Bangladesh will begin their campaign against former champions Sri Lanka on June 8 in Dallas.