Nurul Hasan Sohan looking to usher Bangladesh cricket into a new era

Nurul Hasan Sohan / PC: Twitter

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), on Wednesday (September 14) announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20I World Cup 2022, starting in Australia next month.

Shakib Al Hasan, who was appointed the captain of the Bangladesh T20I team ahead of Asia Cup 2022 will continue leading the side in the showpiece event Down Under with the wicket-keeper batter Nurul Hasan Sohan acting as his deputy. 

With Shakib’s appointment as the captain, there was a glimmer of hope for Bangladesh that the team might pull off some fight in the Asia Cup 2022, however, things haven't gone as planned for the Tigers as they suffered a group stage exit in the continental tournament following back-to-back losses against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. 

Considering how things have panned out for Bangladesh in UAE, the BCB have decided to drop several players from the squad, including Parvez Hossain Emon, Anamul Haque, Mahedi Hasan, and Mohammad Naim.

We go out in middle only to win matches: Nurul Hasan Sohan 

Nurul Hasan Sohan, the vice-captain of Bangladesh T20 team feels this is the right time for the Tigers, who are in the transition period to prove their mettle at the biggest stage and take the Bangladesh cricket forward. 

"The contributions from our senior players towards our cricket are on a different level as they took us a long way forward. So now is the time for us to pick up the baton and take Bangladesh cricket even further."

There were, however, questions on big names missing the World Cup squad of Bangladesh and if it will have any impact on the overall performance of the team in the mega event. Pitching on the same, Sohan asserted that it won't faze the team if they play as a unit.

"We go out in the middle only to win matches for Bangladesh and I think it (the absence of experienced players) won't have a huge impact on us. If we can play as a unit and not be concerned about the result initially and follow the process, we can do something good." 

How will playing in UAE help Bangladesh prepare for the T20 WC?

Sohan will lead the Bangladesh team against the hosts UAE in the two T20Is, set to be played on September 25 and September 27 at the Dubai International Stadium as Shakib Al Hasan will be playing in the Caribbean Premier League. 

On being asked if the conditions in UAE will help Bangladesh in any way to prepare for the T20I World Cup since the wicket at Australia offers a bouncy surface, Sohan told the media:  

"No matter who you are playing against, it certainly helps you to gain experience as you can't take any team lightly in the T20 format. I think it's a very good opportunity for us that we will be able to play two matches before heading for our World Cup mission."

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