Bangladesh are aiming for the Asia Cup trophy, declared Liton Das and Jaker Ali before leaving the country.
Weeks ago, Jaker expressed the same dream during preparations, and even at the airport, his confidence remained unwavering. Sharing the same vision, skipper Liton Das leads the team determined to move past the heartbreak of three lost finals and finally clinch the elusive title.
The Bangladesh team departed for Abu Dhabi on Sunday in two groups. The first included Liton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Sheikh Mehedi Hasan, and Tawhid Hridoy. The rest are scheduled to leave on an evening flight.
Bangladesh began preparations a month ago with intense fitness sessions, followed by skill-based training. After practice sessions at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, the team shifted to Sylhet for more focused drills. The presence of power-hitting coach Julian Wood added extra value, while the BCB arranged a series against the Netherlands to fine-tune the squad. The Tigers clinched that series confidently, boosting morale ahead of the tournament.
Back on August 18, Jaker said, “We’re heading into the Asia Cup with the goal of becoming champions.” Speaking to the media before departure, his tone was equally assertive:
“Of course, we all truly believe we can win. That’s the mentality we’re carrying. Our preparation has been excellent — from fitness to the Netherlands series. We’re confident and expect to do well in the Asia Cup.”
He further added: “We’ll focus on improving step by step in every match. Our ultimate goal is to become champions and deliver a strong tournament.”
The Asia Cup kicks off on Tuesday, but Bangladesh play their first match Thursday against Hong Kong. Their real test lies ahead, with Afghanistan and Sri Lanka as group-stage opponents, making progression a tough challenge.
Despite experts doubting their chances, Bangladesh remain unfazed. Indian analyst Aakash Chopra and Sri Lankan commentator Russel Arnold both predicted an early exit, but Jaker dismissed the remarks, saying:
“We don’t need to answer anyone. We’ll just focus on playing our best cricket.”
With three consecutive T20I series wins, the Tigers enter the tournament brimming with confidence. After the Netherlands series, Liton remarked that Bangladesh had never been this well-prepared for a major competition.
Before boarding the flight, the skipper shared his heartfelt wish:
“I request prayers from the best fans in the world — for me and my team. We promise to give our best in the UAE, taking it one match at a time. But our ultimate dream is to lift the trophy.”
