Unlike Chandika, Shanto believes Tigers' 'World Cup dream still on'

Bangladesh's in-form top-order batter Najmul Hossain Shanto said that the players still have the same dream as before regarding the World Cup, contradicting the views of head coach Chandika Hathurusingha.

In a recent interview with two Bangla dailies, Hathurusingha, after the Tigers' exit from the Asia Cup, suggested that "anyone still dreaming of the World Cup needs to wake up". 

Shanto, however, mentioned today that the dream is still on. 

"It's not like that. We all are still dreaming of the same thing as before," said Shanto, who is set to lead Bangladesh for the first time in the third and final ODI against New Zealand in Mirpur tomorrow. 

In absence of regular skipper Shakib Al Hasan and vice-captain Liton Das, Shanto was added to the squad for the final ODI against the Kiwis. 

Asked to comment on the statement made by the head coach regarding the World Cup, Shanto said: "Us players, we targetted to finish among the top four in the ODI Super League. And we finished third on the table. From that point, we all dreamt that we will do well in the World Cup, and that we will achieve a result that Bangladesh have never achieved before in the World Cup. We believe that we have that capability, so, we still have that same dream." 

Even senior campaigner Tamim Iqbal was taken aback by Hathurusingha's comments. The left-handed opener also suggested that they are dreaming of doing well in the upcoming mega event. 

Bangladesh suffered an 86-run thumping in the second ODI against New Zealand and will hope to bounce back and avert their first-ever bilateral series loss to the Kiwis at home since 2008. The first ODI was washed out.