Shakib seeks gradual progress to Tigers' T20 fortunes

Bangladesh T20 captain Shakib Al Hasan has asked the Bangladesh cricket community not to expect big things at the Asia Cup, starting August 27 in the UAE, reports UNB.
Playing down his team's chances at the tournament, the all-rounder said Bangladesh played 35 T20s in the last two years and won only 13 of them.
"If we can show a bit of improvement at the Asia Cup from what we have done over the last few years, it would be an achievement," Shakib told the media Monday. "One should not expect that we will make it to the final."
Shakib said that rather than hoping to win the Asia Cup, the expectations should be about doing better in the shorter format of the game in the next four years.
"We are a good team and we have done it before. And we do not have to change the way we play cricket but it is important that we use our resources properly," the all-rounder added.
In the group stage, Bangladesh will take on Afghanistan and Sri Lanka on August 29 and September 01.
Meanwhile, opening batsman Mohammad Naim has been included in the Bangladesh squad for the Asia Cup 2022 beginning on August 27 in the UAE, replacing the injured pacer Hasan Mahmud.
Naim, who was part of the Bangladesh A team during the recent Tour of the West indies, will join the team in Dubai on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old left-hander has been capped 34 times for Bangladesh in T20 internationals
Meanwhile, Hasan and wicket-keeper Nurul Hasan Sohan, who were originally selected in the squad, will miss the Asia Cup due to injury.
Mahmud suffered a ligament damage to his right ankle during training on Saturday, and is sidelined for at least three weeks.
Sohan underwent a surgery on his left index finger in Singapore two weeks ago and needs more time to recover.
It means although the selectors initially named a 17-man squad, the final selection under captain Shakib Al Hasan is 16.
Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Musaddek Hossain Saikat, Mahmud Ullah, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Shaif Uddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Shabbir Rahaman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Parvez Hossain Emon and Mohammad Naim.