Don't Expect Big Things at Asia Cup: Shakib

Bangladesh T20 captain Shakib Al Hasan has asked the Bangladesh cricket community not to expect big things at the Asia Cup, starting August 27 in the UAE.

Playing down his team's chances at the tournament, the all-rounder said Bangladesh played 35 T20s in the last two years and won only 13 of them.

"If we can show a bit of improvement at the Asia Cup from what we have done over the last few years, it would be an achievement," Shakib told the media Monday. "One should not expect that we will make it to the final."

The last time the Asia Cup was played as a T20 event was in 2106 when hosts Bangladesh finished runners-up to India.

Shakib said rather than hoping to win the Asia Cup, the expectations should be about doing better in the shorter format of the game in the next four years.

"We are a good team and we have done it before. And we do not have to change the way we play cricket but it is important that we use our resources properly," the all-rounder added.

Bangladesh will not get the service of head coach Russell Domingo at the Asia Cup. Domingo will coach the Bangladesh team in Tests and ODIs only.

The BCB has appointed the former Indian cricketer Sridharan Sriram as the technical consultant (T20 head coach) for the Bangladesh T20 team.

The Tigers will travel to the UAE for the upcoming Asia Cup on August 23. Six teams will play in the biggest cricketing event in Asia.

In the group stage, Bangladesh will take on Afghanistan and Sri Lanka on August 29 and September 1.