Dubai: After Tamim Iqbal stepped down from ODI captaincy, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has handed the leadership role to a prominent all-rounder for upcoming major tournaments.
Tamim Iqbal, who had announced his shock retirement from international cricket last month, reversed his decision to hang up his boots but decided to relinquish the captaincy post last week.
With two major tournaments lined up this year – the Asia Cup and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup – the BCB has entrusted the leadership duty to one of their most experienced prospects, Shakib Al Hasan. In between, Bangladesh also have a home ODI series lined up against New Zealand in September.
BCB president Nazmul Hassan announced Shakib’s captaincy news to the media on Friday, 11 August, at his residence in Dhaka. “Shakib Al Hasan is the captain for the Asia Cup, New Zealand series, and World Cup,” he said.
Bangladesh is yet to announce the squad for the Asia Cup, and Nazmul confirmed that the same squad will feature in the much-anticipated Cricket World Cup.
Tamim is currently recovering from a back injury and while he is out of the Asia Cup, he is expected to be fit for the New Zealand series and the World Cup that follows.
Shakib has captained Bangladesh in ODIs on 50 occasions. His most recent leadership in the ODI format was during a tri-series match against Ireland in 2017, where he stood in for their regular captain, Mashrafe Mortaza. Mortaza was serving a one-match suspension for a slow over-rate offence.
The ‘It Takes One Day’ campaign was launched in Mumbai just 77 days out from the start of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
The prolific all-rounder has experience leading Bangladesh in major 50-over events, having led them in the 2010 Asia Cup and the 2011 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Bangladesh will begin their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign on 7 October against Afghanistan in Dharamsala. The final of the marquee event is scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad on 19 November.
Courtesy: ICC