"2023 World Cup qualification not ultimate goal, want to finish in top 4" Tamim Iqbal

Bangladesh will host India for a 3-ODI series [Source: Twitter]

Ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023, Bangladesh achieved automatic qualification for the marquee event after the One-Day International (ODI) between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan ended in a 1-1 draw last evening.

Bangladesh, who under Tamim Iqbal are due to host India in a three-match ODI series from December 4, said that he was surprised by his team's qualification, but did not put much emphasis on it ahead of the series.

The Bangla Tigers head into the India series, winning five of their last six ODI tourneys, taking Iqbal's win percentage to 59.25, the highest for any Bangladeshi skipper in 50-overs cricket. 

Iqbal maintained that Bangladesh wants to finish within the top four of the ODI Super League.

“I was taken by surprise when I saw that we had completed the qualification. I thought we would need to win one out of the last six games, but because of the other teams’ results, it came early. It gives a bit of breather, but it is not the ultimate goal. We have to finish in the top four if possible,”

Bangladesh received some worrying news ahead of the first ODI in Dhaka, where fast bowler Taskin Ahmed has been ruled out due to back pain.

Iqbal himself is under the scanner after picking up a groin injury in a warm-up match on Tuesday.

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