‘We can perform like we did before’

Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan said that the Tigers are going through a transition period and that the team will turn things around and continue to perform to expectations. The Test and T20 skipper spoke at an UNICEF ceremony in New York on Thursday where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received an award titled 'Champion of Skill Development for Youth'' for Bangladesh's great success in youth skill development.

Bangladesh have had a few patchy results during the World Cup but following the tournament, their performances dipped significantly as was evidenced by their recent whitewash against Sri Lanka and the one-off Test against Afghanistan. The Tigers did get a morale boost after making the final of the T20 tri-series at home but had to share the trophy with Afghanistan as rain washed out the final.

Shakib still believed that the Tigers, who also lost to Afghanistan in the T20 tri-series league stage's first match, can bounce back from their current scenario.

"We believe we are a good team. Every team goes through a transition period and currently we are in that position," he said.

The Tigers had sporadic success in the last few years with the high point being their win in the tri-nation series in Ireland before the 2019 World Cup. They are still a struggling side in Tests, although memories of their home series Test wins against the likes of England, Australia and West Indies can give them a boost with the Test Championship just around the corner.

While the Tigers will not play any ODIs till May next year, they will have Test and T20 series in their calendar. The Tigers will tour India in November to play three T20s and two Tests.

"It won't take long before we can start to perform like we did before.

The 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia is firmly in Bangladesh's focus and while it is a format that the team has generally struggled in, Shakib was of the opinion that his team is capable enough to battle it out and achieve objectives.

"We have two World Cups in front of us, starting with the T20 World Cup. I firmly believe that we will make our country proud in there."