Asia Cup 2023: Shakib to Mushfiqur - Four Bangladesh players to watch out for

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The Asia Cup 2023 is set to begin from August 30 and six teams are going to clash against each other for the continental trophy.

Bangladesh are expected to be the dark horse once again. Shakib Al Hasan is again at the helm and would be leading a very talented team. Let’s have a look at four Bangladesh stars who are expected to bring their A-game in the high-octane turnament.

Mushfiqur Rahim: The veteran wicketkeeper-batter is in the twilight years of his career and he will waste no opportunity in the upcoming three months, starting with the Asia Cup 2023. The 36-year-old has played 251 ODI matches and picked 7257 runs at an average of 37.21 and a strike rate of 79.71. Nine hundreds and 45 fifties have come off his bat in an ODI career spanning over 17 years now.

The right-hand batter hasn't got a great record in Sri Lanka and he would be looking at statistics in the island nation. In 15 ODI games in Sri Lanka, Rahim has scored just 253 runs at an average of 21.08 and a strike rate of 69.69. However, he averages 31.66 versus India, 36.83 versus Pakistan, 36.00 against Afghanistan and 34.00 against Sri Lanka. His experience on tricky surfaces in Sri Lanka would come very handy for Bangladesh.

Shakib Al Hasan: 18 years since his Bangladesh debut, Shakib Al Hasan remains the most important member of the Bangladesh cricket team. The 36-year-old will again be seen leading the Bangladesh squad after Tamim Iqbal stepped down from the role.

The southpaw has scored 7211 runs in 235 ODI matches at an average of 37.55 and a strike rate of 82.56 and also picked 305 wickets at an average of 28.98 and an economy rate of 4.44.

Shakib averages 24.37 with the bat in Sri Lanka. He has also picked 18 wickets in 25 matches at an average of 50.77 but an economy rate of 4.63. Like Rahim, Shakib would also be raring to better his record in Sri Lanka. His left-arm spin would play a very crucial role in the Asia Cup 2023 for Bangladesh.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz: The 25-year-old all-rounder is walking on the footsteps of Shakib Al Hasan and his records so far speak for it. In 77 ODI matches so far, the off-spinner has picked 88 wickets at an economy rate of 4.70. He has also scored 888 runs including a hundred at an average of 21.65 and a strike rate of 77.01. The role of all-rounders have increased heavily in modern day cricket. He has picked six wickets in six matches at an economy rate of 5.31 in Sri Lanka. He has scored 104 runs in six matches at an average of 26 and a strike rate of 79.38.

Mustafizur Rahman: Bangladesh's premier pacer Mustafizur Rahman is expected to play a very crucial roin the upcoming Asia Cup for Bangladesh. Pitches in Sri Lanka are expected to be slow and dual-paced and the left-arm pacer can wreak havoc under such scenarios. He mixes his pace beautifully and also bowls deadly yorkers. His pace has dropped but the mastery over swing remains. He bowls in mid 130s at the moment and the kind of pace can do magic on tricky pitches of Sri Lanka. He has played a total of 89 ODIs and picked 148 matches at an average of 24.62 and an economy rate of 5.08. He has played five matches and picked 10 wickets at an average of 29.60 and an economy rate of 6.70.