The Bangladesh Board appointed Shakib Appointed Captain Asia Cup World Cup. Shakib Al Hasan will be Bangladesh’s ODI captain for the Asia Cup and World Cup, BCB President Nazmul Hasan confirmed on Friday (August 11). We have appointed Shakib as the captain for Asia Cup and World Cup. The World Cup and Asia Cup squad will be announced tomorrow. The selectors will pick a squad of 17 members,” Nazmul told reporters at his house on Friday.
The post went vacant after Tamim Iqbal decided to step down from captaincy on August 3. Psljanoon had previously reported that Shakib was expected to become captain across all three formats at least till the World Cup even though Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan remained in contention for the ODI leadership role.
Read More Pakistan Squad for Asia Cup
Shakib AL Hassan Captain Bangladesh
Earlier, the BCB president had insisted that board was waiting to hear about Shakib’s availability before appointing him as captain. The 36-year-old will now take over with immediate effect in the build up to the two global tournaments.
Nazmul did add that having Shakib lead across formats for the long term was as yet undecided. “We haven’t spoken with him regarding long-term captaincy and we can say about it after he arrives because we have to know about his availability. Leading three formats might be pressure for him so we have to talk with him because without doing that it is difficult to say anything.
“Now he is away from the country and playing for a team (in LPL) and he has some engagements there, so we did not want to disturb him because today he has a game. But what we have decided is that till the World Cup he is playing and till that time Shakib is the captain.
“After talking with him, we will decide whether he will lead for long period across format or he will leave any format (as captain) and we will take a decision in this regard after his arrival,” he said.
“There is no question about his potential but what is impressive is that during the last one year no one is as serious regarding cricket as him, though I had doubts earlier whether he was serious or not and what he will play and what he will not,” he said.
Nazmul also confirmed that Litton would continue to serve as the vice-captain and will lead in the event of Shakib’s absence. However, leadership decisions for the long term have been put on hold for now.
“If Shakib al Hasan doesn’t play( for any reason) the vice-captain Liton will lead the side. There were other names like Mehidy Hasan if we think about long term keeping the future in mind. Now Mushfiqur doesn’t lead the side while Tamim just stepped down and when Shakib leaves the post what will happen and at that point other names will also come up,” he said.
The 36-year-old, who is the current Test and T20I skipper, has previously led Bangladesh in 50-overs cricket, including at the World Cup in 2011. Nazmul clarified that the selection panel delayed naming the squad as they were not sure about the captain.
