[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Squad: Shakib Al Hasan ©, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Hasan, Tanzid Hasan, Mahmudullah.

Like Afghanistan, Bangladesh will be rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of an Asian World Cup, but their goal should be higher than merely a win or two. Having a 70% win rate in ODIs so far this decade, the Tigers must regard 2023 as an opportunity to pounce.

Granted, the tournament hasn't come at the best of times in terms of injury, and the hokey-cokey retirement and near-immediate comeback of Tamim Iqbal demonstrates that Bangladesh have had the same personnel problems as other nations in the run-up to this World Cup. Nevertheless, a batting order of Tamim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim and talismanic skipper Shakib will acquit themselves well more often than not; an ongoing cultural aversion to wrist-spinners (in a country where bowlers are frequently judged on economy rates) led the BCB to issue a bizarre proclamation four years ago that all Bangladeshi first-class sides must field a leggy in each match, and even extended the demand to the nation's premier T20 competition, but the policy has borne no fruit for the national team as yet, who are obliged to employ an Indian leg-spinner just for batting practice. Instead, the Tigers will be sticking with their tried-and-tested pace attack - veteran left-armer Mustafizur "The Fizz" Rahman makes the squad, but has been playing second fiddle recently to youngster Shoriful Islam, while Taskin Ahmed is the genuine quick in the line-up - and spin duties will be divided between offy Mehidy Hasan, left-arm orthodoxes Nasum Ahmed and Shakib and a battery of part-timers.

They may not be nailed on for the semis, but it would be a disappointment for Bangladesh not to at least be in the hunt for a top four place in the group a month from now.

Highest World Cup total: 333-8 vs Australia (Trent Bridge, 2019)
Lowest World Cup total: 58 vs West Indies (Dhaka, 2011)
Highest World Cup innings: 128*, Mahmudullah vs New Zealand (Hamilton, 2015)
Best World Cup bowling figures: 5-29, Shakib Al Hasan vs Afghanistan (Southampton, 2019)
Leading World Cup run-scorer: Shakib Al Hasan, 1,146 runs
Leading World Cup wicket-taker: Shakib Al Hasan, 34 wickets


Tournament Schedule: Afghanistan, England, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Netherlands, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia