AB de Villiers does not see bangladesh reaching champions trophy semi-finals
He did acknowledge that Bangladesh have the ability to cause surprises.
AB de Villiers does not believe Bangladesh will make it to the Champions Trophy semi-finals. The former South African cricketer assessed all eight teams on his YouTube channel 'AB de Villiers 360' and was clear about Bangladesh's chances.
Bangladesh reached the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy in 2017, a milestone that remains one of their biggest achievements in ODI cricket.
However, nearly eight years later, the team's strength in the format has diminished. Several experienced players have retired, and while the current squad is built around young talent, expectations remain cautious.
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Head coach Phil Simmons and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto have both expressed their ambition to win the tournament, but former South African cricketer AB de Villiers does not share their optimism.
Speaking on his YouTube channel 'AB de Villiers 360', the former Proteas captain assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the eight participating teams. Regarding Bangladesh, he was direct in his opinion. "To be honest, I don't see Bangladesh making it to the knockouts. Bangladeshi fans might not like to hear this, but I have to speak the truth," he said.
De Villiers did acknowledge that Bangladesh have the ability to cause surprises. "They can definitely shock a few teams, maybe even a big one. But reaching the semi-finals will be a huge challenge for them," he added. He also praised some of the team's key players, mentioning Taskin Ahmed's ability as a right-arm pacer, Mehidy Hasan Miraz's all-round skills, and Mahmudullah's experience. Shanto, according to de Villiers, is a reliable and consistent batter.
The 40-year-old is not the only former cricketer to cast doubt on Bangladesh's chances. Australia's World Cup-winning captain Ricky Ponting recently stated that Afghanistan are more likely to progress than Bangladesh. De Villiers seemed to agree, pointing out that the Tigers' group-stage opponents—India, New Zealand, and hosts Pakistan—make qualification difficult.
Bangladesh begin their Champions Trophy campaign against India in Dubai on 20 February, followed by two matches in Rawalpindi—against New Zealand on 24 February and Pakistan on 27 February.
