Ahead of the Champions Trophy, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has shared his predictions, speculating on which teams might perform well, reach the semifinals, or make it to the finals. However, his outlook for Bangladesh is rather pessimistic.
In an ICC podcast, the Australian cricket legend expressed doubts about Bangladesh’s chances in the tournament. He stated, “I think they (Bangladesh) will struggle. I don’t see the quality in their squad compared to the other teams in the Champions Trophy. They are a dangerous side in their ideal home conditions, but they won’t get those conditions in the Champions Trophy.”
However, BCB director Nazmul Abedin Fahim disagreed with Ponting’s assessment. Speaking to the media, he said, “The Bangladesh team has made significant improvements over the past four to five months, something Ricky Ponting may not have seen or realized.”
He added, “There were areas where we struggled to score quickly and lacked confidence, but I believe we will see some improvement in those aspects this time. If we get the chance to face Australia, Bangladesh will give them a tough time.”
