Trophy on Tigers' minds

Young Nazmul Hossain Shanto topped the beep test with a score of 12.6 on the opening day of the Bangladesh 31-member preliminary squad's preparation camp yesterday ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup in UAE.

Apart from Test and T20I skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad, all other members of the squad were present for the fitness testing and screening session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

The cricketers, divided into two groups, also spent time in the gym where head coach Steve Rhodes later conducted a fielding session after a team meeting in the afternoon.

It was also a reunion for the cricketers after a break -- including the Eid vacation -- following the largely successful tour of West Indies where the Tigers won the ODI and T20I series after crumbling to defeats in the two Tests.

Pacer Abu Jayed, who interacted with the media just after the team meeting, informed that skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has given clear instructions that the Tigers will not just go to participate in the upcoming Asia Cup, but rather look to clinch the title.

"If you want to know the planning for the upcoming Asia Cup then I would say that we are going there to win the trophy. We just had a team meeting in the dressing room where Mashrafe bhai told us to keep the belief that we can become champions. We are not just going to participate in the tournament," said Jayed to the media yesterday.

The 25-year-old had a successful debut for the Tigers in the Tests in West Indies where he showed his ability by bagging seven wickets in the two Tests and, more importantly, displayed a lot of character and the will to fight with the ball.

The cricketer from Sylhet is now eyeing his ODI debut in the upcoming Asia Cup, but admitted that he has to overcome the tough competition in the fast bowling department.

Jayed also added that he is looking to work on variations and that he will work on his wrist position with the Tigers' bowling coach and West Indies fast bowling legend Courtney Walsh.

"We are literally jealous of Walsh whenever he bowls in the nets as he can still swing the ball in both directions, which is outstanding. At the same time we also thought that if he can do that now we should also be able to do so," Jayed said.