Santner insists Bangladesh remain a threat, even without Shakib
The New Zealand captain was quick to stress that New Zealand would not underestimate their opponents, especially given how often Bangladesh has troubled them in recent years
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner insists that Bangladesh remains a dangerous side even without Shakib Al Hasan.
For years, Shakib Al Hasan has been Bangladesh's heartbeat across formats, a match-winner with both bat and ball, regardless of conditions. His absence, with his international career now effectively over, leaves an undeniable void. Yet, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner believes the Tigers remain a formidable side without their talisman.
Speaking ahead of their Champions Trophy clash in Rawalpindi, Santner dismissed the notion that Shakib's absence made Bangladesh any less dangerous. "We've seen how good Shakib has been for so long. He could perform anywhere. But they now have Rishad, an excellent leg-spinner. Mehidy Miraz is always reliable, and even Mahmudullah can bowl some handy overs," Santner said.
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Santner was quick to stress that New Zealand would not underestimate their opponents, especially given how often Bangladesh has troubled them in recent years. The Tigers defeated the Black Caps both at home and away, including a memorable win during the last Champions Trophy.
"We're not taking them lightly. On their day, they can beat any team. Hopefully, not us," Santner added with a smile.
Beyond spin, Bangladesh's pace attack has also caught the attention of the New Zealand skipper. "They have a very strong pace unit. Taskin has been excellent for a while, and we all know how dangerous Fizz can be. Rana is quick and hits the deck hard. We've played plenty of matches against them, and they know us well too," he said.
With New Zealand recently playing several matches in Pakistan, Santner expects another batting-friendly surface in Rawalpindi. "Of course, we have some plans for Bangladesh. But first, we need to see how the pitch behaves. Karachi was flat, and Rawalpindi usually favours batters," he explained.
Santner predicted a high-scoring affair, emphasising the importance of partnerships. "We'll look to build good partnerships and put up a big score. Two hundred won't be enough here. Three hundred would be a competitive total," he noted.
Reflecting on New Zealand's recent performances, Santner praised his side's adaptability. "We did well in the Tri-Nation Series. Different players stepped up at different times, which was great to see. Bangladesh, of course, is a different challenge. But we'll stick to our strengths and see how things unfold."
