Tamim's UAE knowledge will help Bangladesh

Dubai - Bangla Tigers will take on Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup opener at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday

Bangladesh may be making their bow in the UAE and walking into a bit of the unknown but Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal has first-hand knowledge which could help his side at the Asia Cup.

The Bangla Tigers will be making their first foray here, having never played in the country before, but they would be well served by Iqbal, who knows a thing or two about the conditions, having featured in all three editions of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Iqbal has turned out for back-to-back PSL champions Peshawar Zalmi.

"We haven't seen the wicket yet but I have a little experience of playing in Dubai because of PSL," Tamim said during Bangladesh's training session at the ICC Cricket Academy.

"But you can't expect the wicket to remain same all the time. Sometimes it is good for batting and sometimes it helps the seamers and the spinners. So, we need to see what kind of wicket we get. But playing in Dubai is always fun and we are very excited to play on Saturday and we should have a good game," he added.

Bangladesh, runners-up to India at the last Asia Cup at home in 2016, take on Sri Lanka in the tournament opener at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Another interesting sub-plot would be Bangladesh going up against their former coach Chandika Hathurusingha.

Hathurusingha, who has also coached the UAE for a year in 2005, guided Bangladesh from 2014 to 2017 and Tamim said it will be exciting to play against their former coach.

"Our former head coach is from Sri Lanka and we have played a lot of times against Sri Lanka in recent times. So, we know them in and out. But it all depends on the day and whichever team ticks the most boxes will have a good chance of winning," felt Tamim.

They may have finished second to India in the previous edition but thoughts of a first trophy are not on his mind just yet.

"It is a different format and you have to win the two matches to qualify and go to the next round. So, for me, the first two games are really important and we need to win those two games and go to the second round and see what we can do there. Thinking too ahead, I don't think that is going to work and we need to take it match by match," he said.

"I'm here to do the job for the team and I will try to do it to the best of my ability depending on what is required," added Tamim.

Tamim will have a new opening partner with Liton Das, recalled following Anamul Haque's poor run of form.

"Liton has been there for a while now. He has been opening in Test cricket and opened in T20s and he has been batting quite well. If the team management decides to open with him it won't be a surprise," said the 29-year-old.

james@khaleejtimes.com

• Asia Cup 2019