Najmul Hossain Shanto adamant that Shakib, Mahmudullah will guide him in the T20 World Cup

Shanto will lead the side in the mega-event

Najmul Hossain Shanto is confident that former captain Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah will guide and help him as they do during the preparations of the T20 World Cup 2024 starting on June 1st in the USA and the West Indies.

Najmul Hossain Shanto, named Bangladesh’s captain across all formats in February 2024, previously led the team at the ODI World Cup in India. He filled in for Shakib al Hasan during matches against India and Sri Lanka.

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This World Cup will be a different story, though. All eyes will be on Najmul as Bangladesh opens their campaign against Sri Lanka in Dallas on June 7th.

“Having such experienced cricketers on the team is a big plus point, especially for those playing in their first World Cup,” Najmul was quoted on BCB’s Facebook page on Tuesday.
“There’s a lot to learn from them. They also have leadership experience, and they will help me during difficult times. Whenever I need something, they come forward. Hopefully, the World Cup will not be an exception,” he said.

“I think every cricketer dreams of representing their country. Having the opportunity to play on a stage like the World Cup is a proud and thrilling moment for any cricketer. I want to enjoy this time and fulfill my responsibilities to the team. That’s the goal. I don’t want to think that being captain has increased my responsibilities too much. I want to enjoy every day,” he added.

Najmul, aware of the need to address weaknesses before the World Cup, called on his teammates to focus on the process and execute the fundamentals flawlessly. This comes after Bangladesh’s shaky preparation in the USA, where they lost their first T20I series but managed to bounce back with a convincing win in the final match. Key areas for improvement include the top order’s batting form and death bowling execution.

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“When we go to play in a big tournament, we must go with big dreams. I don’t like focusing on outcomes. If we work on our processes, something good will come,” Najmul said.

“We want to perform very well as a team and achieve what we haven’t achieved before. Thinking about expectations increases pressure, so it’s very important to follow the process. If we can focus on the small things, the results will come,” he said.

“The way supporters follow and stand by cricket keeps the team ahead. Even in difficult times, I hope they continue to support the team,” he added.

Bangladesh squad for T20 World Cup 2024:

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Taskin Ahmed, Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Tanvir Islam, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.

Bangladesh fixtures for T20 World Cup 2024:

Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, Saturday, June 8 (Grand Praire Stadium)
Bangladesh v South Africa, Monday, June 10 (Nassau County International Cricket Stadium)
Bangladesh v Netherlands, Thursday, June 13 (Arnos Vale Stadium)
Bangladesh v Nepal, Monday, June 17 (Arnos Vale Stadium)