Newly-appointed Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has highlighted the need for better home pitches to improve their record in the T20 World Cup.
Despite being one of the nine countries to have played in every T20 World Cup since its inception in 2007, Bangladesh has never reached the knockout stage.
Najmul, who took over as all-format captain in February at the age of 25, replacing the experienced Shakib Al Hasan, attributed their struggles to suboptimal home pitches that fail to prepare the team for the high-scoring demands of international T20 cricket.
"First of all, we have to play on good wickets," Najmul told AFP. "Some people can take it as an excuse, but it is really a fact that we play very few matches on a good wicket."
Bangladesh’s pitches are known for low-scoring games, and only Towhid Hridoy in their World Cup squad has a T20 international strike rate above 130. Najmul believes sustained exposure to better wickets will improve the team’s performance.
"It is difficult to change things in six months. If we continue on a good wicket for one or two years, then these strike rates will improve," he said.
Ranked ninth globally, Bangladesh has shown signs of improvement, securing series wins at home against strong teams like Australia, England, and New Zealand in recent years. However, they faced a setback with a 2-1 defeat to the USA in a recent warm-up series in Houston.
Despite this, Najmul remains optimistic. "We have won a few series, and we have won against big teams. The confidence of the team is in a good position. If we can execute our plans properly, then it is possible to do something good in the World Cup," he stated.
The upcoming T20 World Cup, starting June 1 in the United States and West Indies, might be the final appearance for some of Bangladesh’s veteran players, including Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad. Najmul expressed his desire for these seasoned players to perform their best and share their experience with the team.
Bangladesh faces a challenging group with formidable opponents like South Africa and Sri Lanka, along with Nepal and the Netherlands. Their campaign begins on June 7 in Dallas against Sri Lanka, a match charged with tension following a controversial incident during last year’s ODI World Cup involving Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews.
"We have already moved on," Najmul said, downplaying any lingering resentment. "From the day the incident happened, we did not do anything that would make us think about it. As a team, we are focusing on our own game."
With a focus on better preparation and a positive mindset, Bangladesh hopes to make a significant impact in this year’s T20 World Cup.
