Bangladesh national cricket team, led by its proud captain and world famed all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, returned home on Thursday morning after a successful tour in the West Indies and United States of America (USA).
Five key players – Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Soumya Sarker and Sabbir Rahman – however, did not accompany the team on Thursday that reached the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 8:45 am by an Emirates flight.
Shakib Al Hasan-led Bangladesh team smartly won their first-ever away T20 series against any major cricket playing nation beating West Indies by 2-1, both in Florida after losing the first T20 in St Kitts.
After whitewashed in the two-match Test series against the hosts Caribbeans featuring one of their ever-worse performances, Tigers most successful captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza joined the Bangladesh team in the three-match ODI squad and clinched the ODI series 2-1 boosting-up the morale of the Bangladeshi cricketers.
Soon after arrival at the airport in the morning, Shakib Al Hasan expressed his total satisfaction over the tour saying, “I am very satisfied with my personal and the team performances, we won two trophies (out of three) and this tour is very successful one.”
“It was one of the best performances of our team in foreign soil, usually we did not experience such results in foreign soil before; we also proved that we are able to come back after a frustrating show (test series).”
“After a successful tour, the confidence level of our team is now very high, it will definitely help us do better in the ensuing Asia Cup Cricket” he added
Replying to a query, Shakib said he want to go for an operation on his injured finger before Asia Cup Cricket as he likes to deliver his best with full fitness.
Bangladesh top order batsman cum man of the match of the final T20 match, Liton Das said, he regained his confidence after a good batting in the last T20 match.
Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal, former national captain Mushfiqur Rahim and all-rounder Sabbir Rahman are staying in USA to spend vacation.
Batting all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad went back to West Indies to play in the Caribbean Premier League for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots till the Asia Cup Cricket while another opening batsman Soumya Sarkar went to Ireland to join the Bangladesh A team there.
Besides, Tigers ODI captain Mashrafe went to United States with his family after the ODI series and he is expected to return home in middle of this month.
