Shakib Al Hasan named Bangladesh ODI captain ahead of Asia Cup & Cricket World Cup 2023

Shakib Al Hasan also captained Bangladesh in the Cricket World Cup 2011 held in India.

Bangladesh Cricket Board have announced Shakib al Hasan as their new ODI captain. Tamim Iqbal had given his resignation as ODI captain after coming back out of retirement just a few weeks ago. Shakib Al Hasan will be leading the Bangladesh team in all three formats. He was serving as Test and T20I captain of the team for Bangladesh Cricket.

Tamim Iqbal is also ruled out of the Asia Cup scheduled to begin on 30th August due to a lower back injury. Shakib al Hasan will take over as a captain of all three formats when Bangladesh take on the field against Asia Cup co-hosts Sri Lanka on 31st August. 

BCB President confirms Shakib’s appointment

This will be Shakib Al Hasan’s third tenure as ODI captain of the team. First, he was appointed captain of the team from 2009 to 2011, he led the team in the 2011 World Cup as well. After that Shakib was appointed captain of the team in 2017. Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan confirmed the reports of Shakib being appointed captain. He said, “We have appointed Shakib as the captain for Asia Cup and World Cup. The World Cup and Asia Cup squad will be announced tomorrow. The selectors will pick a 17-member squad.” Bangladesh will be announcing their squad for the Asia Cup on Saturday. 

After the opener, Tamim Iqbal’s resignation, Shakib was the favourite candidate for the leadership role. Shakib has got experience leading the Bangladesh team in 50 ODI games. Under his leadership, Bangladesh showed a little improvement in the beginning and then Mortaza carried on from the momentum to make Bangladesh a power in their backyard. Under Shakib, Bangladesh have won 23 games and lost 26 ODIs, while one was washed out in the rain. Bangladesh are a dominating side in their backyard and will put up a challenge for the top Asian teams in the upcoming Asia Cup in familiar conditions. 

Bangladesh will be opening their Asia Cup campaign against Sri Lanka on 31st August at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. Bangladesh are part of Group B along with co-hosts Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. After the Asia Cup, they will play a short 3-match ODI series against New Zealand before entering the Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. Bangladesh will open their World Cup campaign against Afghanistan at HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on 7th October. There are expectations from Bangladesh in both big events.  

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