As the Champions Trophy is knocking at the door, the Bangladeshi fans cannot help but reminisce about the 2017 edition, which was held in England and Wales when the Tigers reached the semi-finals.
Statistically, that was the biggest achievement for the Bangladesh men鈥檚 national team, as it was the furthest Bangladesh reached in any global tournament. This was also the last time the Champions Trophy was held.
Interestingly, Bangladesh only managed to win a single match that time, but that was enough to take them to the last four of the eight-team tournament.
Bangladesh lost to England in the first match of the group stage at the Oval before the Australia match was washed out at the same venue.
The match against New Zealand at Cardiff was virtually a quarter-final, and chasing 265, Bangladesh were staring at 33-4.
But then that famous partnership鈥攚hich became part of Bangladesh鈥檚 cricketing folklore鈥攂etween Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan happened. They both hit a hundred and took Bangladesh to the semi-finals.
The fans of Bangladesh always want a trophy, and so far, the senior men鈥檚 team hasn鈥檛 been able to achieve that.
But to repeat that feat of 2017, it will be a big challenge for the Tigers, considering the recent results in the format.
Bangladesh are going into the marquee event with a 3-0 series loss against the West Indies鈥攖he team that isn鈥檛 even in the Champions Trophy this time.
Once considered the dearest format of Bangladesh, ODI hasn鈥檛 been a pleasant outing for them in recent times.
They managed to win only two matches in the 2023 World Cup before losing a series to New Zealand, Afghanistan, and the West Indies.
However, head coach Phil Simmons believes that his team can pull off a heist when they begin their campaign against India on February 20 before facing New Zealand and host Pakistan on February 24 and 27, respectively.
鈥業 won鈥檛 be here if I didn鈥檛 believe,鈥� Simmons told the reporters in a press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday when he was asked if he believed his team could win the tournament.
鈥業 think when you go into a tournament, you try and prepare as best as you can, and on that day you play your best game. And that鈥檚 what I look to try and get the team to do on every occasion,鈥� added the former West Indies all-rounder.
He also wants to take positives from their last tour to the Caribbean.
鈥業 think we made a lot of strides in the Caribbean from a point of view of touring strides because I know that lately some of the tours haven鈥檛 been as strong as the latter part of the Caribbean,鈥� said Simmons. 鈥楽o I think that we have a very good chance once we play to the best of our ability.鈥�
In that tour, Bangladesh failed to defend 294 and 321 in the first and third ODIs, respectively. But batting will be their primary concern, as often they fall short of the par score.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto hasn鈥檛 been in great form and was benched for most of the recent BPL.
That鈥檚 one of the hurdles Bangladesh will have to overcome if they want to repeat something like 2017.