<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan vowed to make the side a force to reckon with in T20 format, utilizing the experience he had gained playing the shortest format of the cricket around the world in the last one decade.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>As Bangladesh have been vulnerable in this format, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) gave him the onus after Test format to make a difference.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Shakib's first assignment as T20 captain however will be the upcoming Asia Cup where he wanted the fans to tone down the expectation as he believes nothing will change in overnight.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>He said for Bangladesh, it will be tougher to reach the final given their form and the list of vital players they lost to injury but he believes his side is capable of moving into the Super Four at least. Bangladesh are drawn in Group B alongside Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, both of whom are stronger outfit in this format.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>"It's difficult for us to play (final game). If we can play these two matches well and if we can keep the shade of improvement from the previous series or the series we have played in a year and a half, then there will be an achievement in this tournament," Shakib said here today in his first press conference after being appointed as T20 captain.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>"But now as a captain I am very motivated. I will try to make the team better with the experience I have."</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>He however thinks that it's important to believe in 'ourselves' and spread confidence in everyone in the team.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>"When we leave this room, we will all leave with one thought. Sometimes bad decisions turn out to be good. And without this trust, many good decisions go bad. What matters most is that what decisions we make in the dressing room, we have to believe in it. If we can do this then we can do something good."</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Shakib did not give a direct answer about the team's goals. However, in response to a question, he said, "Whichever team we have, we should play Super Four."</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The six-team Asia Cup is going to begin on August 27. From each group two teams will move to the next round to form Super Four. Four teams will play each other in the Super Four. The top two teams on the basis of points will go to the finals.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Bangladesh which lost eight matches in the last 10 games in this format are desperate to thrive in this format. Sridharan Sriram was appointed as the Technical Consultant to bring up elusive success while Russell Domingo was relieved from his duty from this format. Domingo will continue to supervise the team in Test and ODI format.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>But a new coaching staff cannot change the status of a team overnight and so Shakib urged the players to come forward.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>"Everyone in the team has played a lot of cricket and those who play international cricket, have their own idea of how to win the team. I think everyone will try from their place. There is nothing special to say about it. We are not students of class four or five that we should be taught the things."</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon and team director Khaled Mahmud said that captain Shakib is deciding the team's plan by himself. However, Shakib did not show interest in talking about those issues.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>"These plans are usually made by the coach and the captain together. We have a new person in charge here, so these will be done sitting with him. I don't think there will be any specific plans like that," Shakib remarked.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The Bangladesh team will fly on Tuesday to play the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Even though the tournament starts on August 27, Bangladesh will play their first match on August 30 against Afghanistan at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Bangladesh had played in the finals in all three of the last four Asia Cups, starting in 2012 on the country's soil. Shakib, Mushfiqur's hearts were broken when Bangladesh lost the ODI format final match to Pakistan by just 2 runs. They had also lost to India in 2016 when the Asia Cup was held in T20 format.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>In 2018, again in the Asia Cup final of the ODI format, the dream was shattered after being lost to India. This year the Asia Cup will be held in the T20 format to give the teams a best preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>