Dhaka, Feb 16 (V7N) – Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto is determined to lift the Champions Trophy, putting in intense training sessions in Dubai ahead of the tournament. However, former South African cricket star AB de Villiers believes Bangladesh will struggle to reach the semi-finals, let alone claim the title.

Shanto has expressed his ambition to bring home the Champions Trophy, stating that the team is working hard to achieve their ultimate goal. The Bangladesh squad is currently training rigorously, focusing on sharpening their skills ahead of the tournament.

On his YouTube show ‘Who is the Favorite,’ de Villiers assessed the teams’ chances, saying:
"Bangladesh is a good team, but I don’t think they will reach the semi-finals. This may disappoint Bangladeshi fans, but it's the reality. They are competitive but not strong enough to win the Champions Trophy."

Despite this, Mr. 360 Degrees did not completely rule out Bangladesh's potential. He acknowledged that Bangladesh has the ability to upset big teams and make a deep run in the tournament.

"Nazmul Shanto is a great, consistent batsman and a capable leader. The team has experienced players like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah. Taskin Ahmed is an excellent pacer, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz is a solid all-rounder. They can beat any big team on their day."

De Villiers also identified Afghanistan as another ‘giant killer’ alongside Bangladesh. He stated that if either of these two teams made it to the semi-finals, it would be a great achievement for world cricket.

As the Champions Trophy approaches, Bangladesh will be keen to prove the doubters wrong and make a strong statement on the global stage.

END/RH/AJ