ICC World Cup 2019: Can't Take Bangladesh Lightly Anymore - Anil Kumble

Bangladesh Cricket Team have named a strong 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Wolrd Cup 2019 in England and Wales starting from May 30. The team have quite a few experienced cricketers and former Indian skipper Anil Kumble feels no team can take Bangladesh lightly.

Bangladesh will be a different side: Kumble

Meanwhile, the cricketers will be oozing with confidence after winning the tri-series beating Windies in the final. The team have come together as a unit under the leadership of Mashrafe Mortaza to hit the strides ahead of the marquee tournament. This is also their first tri-series win in the history and the players were celebrating the win with immense joy. Mashrafe Mortaza & Co have a good mixture of young and experienced cricketers and if they can hold their composure in crunch situation, the Tigers will give their opponents some hard time.

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As Bangladesh have started their camp in England before they play their practice games, former India coach Anil Kumble has warned other teams not to commit the mistake of taking Bangladesh lightly. The former cricketer also hailed their skipper Mashrafe Mortaza and said that it will be a different team under his leadership. Notably, Mortaza has revealed that it will be his last World Cup and will like to give his all and do some wonders for the country.

Besides, Anil Kumble also heaped praise on their Tamim Iqbal calling him as one of the best openers in the business. He also praised the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahman who have consistently done well for the Bangladesh side over the years.

“You can’t take Bangladesh lightly anymore,” Kumble said to CricketNext in a chat. They have done really really well over the last few years. Mashrafe Mortaza is a very good leader. He has rallied around the team and takes the right decisions. When he will be captaining, one will see a different Bangladesh team,” Kumble added.

Bangladesh choke in knockout stages

Moreover, Anil Kumble added that Bangladesh fails to lift their game during the knockout games and this is where they lag behind from other teams. He also drew examples from the 2105 World Cup and 2017 Champions Trophy where they lost the game from being in winning positions. Kumble feels Bangladesh will have to overcome it if they want to go deep in this World Cup.

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“When they get to those knockout matches, they somehow don’t lift their game. That will be the challenge that this Bangladesh team will have,” he concluded.

Bangladesh will begin their World Cup campaign on June 2 against South Africa at the Oval.