Bangladesh's ODI captain Tamim Iqbal has rekindled his ambition to win the ICC 2023 World Cup in India. Tamim Iqbal voiced his desire in a conversation with former Sri Lankan international Russell Arnold and Farveez Maharoof on Sunday's (September 19) "Chilling With Russel" show. Tamim Iqbal also discussed many aspects of Bangladesh cricket as well as his illustrious cricket career. The most successful batsman of Bangladesh also made a prediction for the T20 World Cup, which will begin next month. Some of the key points Tamim Iqbal discussed during the conversation are extracted in this article.

Tamim Iqbal's Mission for the 2023 World Cup

When Russell Arnold, the host of the "Chilling With Russel" show, asked Tamim Iqbal about his future plans, he responded that he wants to play for Bangladesh for a few more years. Because he has the ability to stretch his cricket career.

Read: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021: Five Potential Replacements of Tamim Iqbal

Tamim Iqbal explained his current position in Bangladesh cricket by saying that the senior players, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mahmudullah Riyad all have been playing together for a long time. They have won international matches and series, but they haven't accomplished anything big for Bangladesh. 

Tamim Iqbal is aiming for the 2023 World Cup to achieve his goal. The famous Bangladeshi cricketer exposed his aim to win the next World Cup as captain while responding to the question. The current ODI captain of the Bangladesh team categorically stated that he intends to win the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 if he stays captain during the main event.

Tamim Iqbal believes that the senior players deserve to win a major tournament after playing for so many years on the international circuit.

Read:Tamim to skip T20 World Cup, but he's not retiring

Bangladesh's prospects in the T20 World Cup 2021

Tamim Iqbal has withdrawn himself from the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2021 due to the lack of adequate preparation. Prior to the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh won three consecutive bilateral T20I series against Zimbabwe, Australia, and New Zealand. So there isn't much more that can be asked for in terms of preparation.

According to Bangladesh Men’s Cricket Team’s ODI Captain, winning bilateral series against stronger opponents would undoubtedly enhance their confidence heading into the World Cup. 

However, he expressed concern that the pitches used in the series were not ideal for better preparation. Tamim believes that the pitches could have been more sporting friendly, allowing the batsmen and bowlers to put their skills to the test against more difficult opponents. Nevertheless, Tamim agreed that winning gives players confidence to perform better on the bigger stage. 

Read Bangladesh squad announced for ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier

When asked about Bangladesh's chances in the T20 World Cup, Tamim opined that if Bangladesh start well, they would do well in the latter stages. However, if Bangladesh do not get off to a good start, they may suffer throughout the competition.

The rest of the IPL 2021 is presently taking place in the United Arab Emirates. Tamim Iqbal doubts that the pitches will be dry in time for the World Cup to start. As a result, the pitches may favor spinners more, resulting in low-scoring matches during the World Cup.

Read: Tamim to miss home series against Australia, New Zealand

It will be excellent news for Bangladesh and subcontinent teams if conditions favor slower bowlers. Because Asian teams have high-quality spinners on their squads, opponents may face a lot of challenges.

Tamim Iqbal also spoke on many incidents in his international cricket career. Particularly, the cricket rivalry between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, as well as the differences between U19 cricket setups in Asia and the rest of the world.

Read T20 World Cup 2021: Favorites to qualify for semifinals from Group 1

Bottom Line

Tamim believes that he has the potential to play for another 4–5 years before retiring from cricket permanently. That is why he wants to continue representing Bangladesh for a few more years. However, right now, his major goal is to help Bangladesh win at least one World Cup. 

Bangladesh's current One-Day International captain Tamim Iqbal aspires to win the 2023 World Cup. Bangladesh are a formidable ODI team, particularly at home and the next ODI World Cup will be held in the subcontinent. Therefore, Bangladesh have a fair chance of winning the most prestigious ICC event.

Read ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Favorites to qualify for semifinals from Group 2