'There are no particular spots that are already fixed' - Tamim Iqbal ahead of Bangladesh's ODI World Cup preparation

Bangladesh and Ireland will be locking horns in a three-match ODI series starting on Tuesday, May 9, at the County Ground in Chelmsford. Ahead of the series, Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal has made a bold statement and said that spots are still up for grabs in the side for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, scheduled to take place in India later this year.

Bangladesh have already qualified for the marquee tournament and will begin their preparations for the mega event during the upcoming series against Ireland and Afghanistan. The Bangla Tigers will be without their several key players against Ireland as seamer Taskin Ahmed is sidelined through injury, and experienced batter Mahmudullah has been rested. In their absence, numerous new players are being trialled ahead of the World Cup.

"There are no particular spots that, I can guarantee, are already fixed. We will play this series and then the next one in different conditions and the best possible team will go (to the World Cup).  For now, whoever has gotten the opportunity has done well, for instance, Towhid Hridoy. It's too early to comment but the one series he played in, he has done exceptionally well,” Tamim was quoted as saying by ICC.

I don't want to use the word favourites a lot: Tamim Iqbal

Bangladesh are currently ranked fourth on the Cricket World Cup Super League standings with 13 wins from 21 matches. The Tamim Iqbal-led side can leave behind England and India and climb to the second spot on the standings if they manage to clean-sweep Ireland 3-0 in the series. However, Tamim refrained from calling his side ‘favourites’ for the upcoming series and admitted that it will be difficult to beat Ireland in conditions which are similar to their home.

"I don't want to use the word favourites a lot. We came here to play good cricket and win games, but in cricket, you can't say anything beforehand in terms of what will happen. They are a good team in these conditions, and they are quite familiar with the conditions. We hope that it will be a good and competitive series,” he added.

Bangladesh squad for Ireland ODI series: Tamim Iqbal (c), Litton Das, Rony Talukdar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Yasir Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury