Shanto Confident in Bangladesh's Strengths Ahead of India Clash

Bangladesh's captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, expressed confidence in his team's chances against India in their upcoming Champions Trophy opener, citing the quality of the team's pacers and all-rounders as key assets. 

As they prepare to face the two-time champions India in a Group A match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, Shanto acknowledged the challenge ahead but remained optimistic.

"To beat India, we know we need to perform well across all departments," Shanto remarked at the pre-match press conference. "But we have good memories from past encounters with India. If we execute our plans effectively, we stand a good chance."

Shanto emphasized the strength of Bangladesh's all-rounders and pacers, stating that they will be crucial in executing their strategies. "We have some excellent all-rounders, and we are relying on them," he added. "All teams have the potential to win, and we believe we can succeed if we stay focused."

Shanto also highlighted the importance of their fast-bowling unit, praising pacer Rana, who has shown promise in his early career. "We are fortunate to have a bowler like Rana," he said. "If he plays, we believe he will deliver. Our team is well-balanced with both spin and fast bowling options."

The 22-year-old Rana has quickly established himself, with 20 wickets in six Tests and four scalps in three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for Bangladesh.

While India will be missing their pace leader, Jasprit Bumrah, due to a lower back injury, Shanto refused to focus on individual players. "We’re not thinking about Bumrah or any other single player," he stated. "We are concentrating on our team and how we can perform as a unit."

Shanto also addressed the conditions in Dubai, noting that the pitch has traditionally favored low scores in ODIs. With the average first-innings score at 218, he stressed the need for his batters to quickly adapt to the challenging environment. "In the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), some of our batsmen adapted well," Shanto said. "We need to adjust to these conditions, which are not as high-scoring as those in Pakistan."

The Bangladesh skipper also expressed confidence in the team's support, with a large number of Bangladeshi fans expected to cheer them on during the match. "We have many supporters here, and we are hopeful they will come out in full force to back us," Shanto concluded.

As Bangladesh looks to make a statement in the tournament, all eyes will be on how they manage to counter India's formidable line-up while leveraging their own strengths.