Taskin oozing with confidence

While the likes of South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka are vying for a place in the top eight of the ODI Super League, Bangladesh find themselves in a favourable position at sixth with 120 points ahead of their series against England in March at home.

The current world champions in both white-ball formats are touring Bangladesh for the first time since 2016 and were the last side to win a bilateral series here. Tigers have won all six home ODI series they have played since then.

With the ODI World Cup coming in October, the focus is firmly on getting to the event in the best possible shape and the Tigers will also be hoping the national team stalwarts like Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal finish their careers with a flourish at the global event to mark their brilliant careers. The return of Sri Lankan coach Chandika Hathurusingha, who oversaw Bangladesh's most successful period, also coincides heavily with the World Cup plan.

Taskin Ahmed, the flag-bearer of Bangladesh's present pace revolution, talked to the media about Hathurusingha's return and the upcoming England series.

"We are excited that Hathurusingha is returning. He is a very good coach and an honest man. I am sure we will do well under him. Those who were young at that time have matured now and we are also in a good stead as far team is concerned," the pacer, who made his debut under Hathurusingha in 2014, said.

Taskin shared that the new coach is 'keeping in touch and sharing his plans' with the players and hoped that pacers will keep having more impact in keeping with their rise. He said that England will be a difficult opponent.

"No doubt that they are a world class team and we feel we are too. We don't want to sell ourselves short since we have won against big teams outside the country," he said.

England's previous visit had seen fiery exchanges and Taskin said there will be a good fight.

"Certainly, it won't be easy against them (England) and they are the biggest side in every format but we have the believe that we are one of the strongest sides in our own backyard and we expect to fight with them," he opined while adding that he has started his rehabilitation and will work on a plan before England's arrival.