Follow UsBangladesh can’t qualify for the semis of the 2023 World Cup but Shakib Al Hasan wants his team to look at the qualification route for the 2025 Champions Trophy as a motivation when they take on Pakistan in Kolkata on Tuesday (October 31).
It’s being reported that the top seven teams at the end of the league stage of the ODI World Cup and hosts Pakistan will compete in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Bangladesh have won only one of their six encounters and are currently placed at No. 9 on the points table.
“I think more than me, the whole team talked about what we need to do. There is a lot to play for. As you know, we have to win to be able to qualify for the Champions Trophy. That's an important target I think we can set at this moment and to do that we have to win. We have no other options and that's what we would look to do,” said Shakib.
Bangladesh’s batting has been way below par in the World Cup. They failed to chase down a target of 230 against the Netherlands. In this competition, only once they have managed to cross the 250-run mark (256 vs India), and even that was way below par on that superb Pune surface.
They are now set to take on Pakistan, who themselves have lost their last four games. “Target is to play tomorrow's match and try to win, do our best and look for the two points that there are to take. So, we'll try our best to do that.
“We had our team meetings, we sat down, we talked about it, how can we overcome the situation we are in now, but we have to show it in action. Talk is cheap when it's not working. So, we'll do it on the ground and the action can take care of it and everyone can see it.”
Talking about Pakistan’s campaign, Shakib said: “I don't want to rate any team at this moment. We have a very important match tomorrow, which we want to win. The same thing I think goes with Pakistan as well. They want to win as well. So, the team that will play better, will win. We'll try our best to play better than Pakistan so that we can win the match.”