Bangladesh vice-captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who came to attend the pre-match press conference today, only disclosed that they have chalked out a plan for Santner.

“In this team Miraz is the biggest asset,” Mashrafe further wrote, adding that Bangladesh’s World Cup dream will depend on the pace unit.

From being brutally trolled on social media at the beginning of his career to becoming the mainstay of Bangladesh’s batting line-up in recent years, Najmul Hossain Shanto has come a long way as a cricketer. The 25-year-old, who is set to play his maiden ODI World Cup, will definitely play a crucial role for the Tigers in the mega event in India. The in-form batter opened up about his game, and expectations from the showpiece event along with a few other topics during an exclusive interview with The Daily Star’s Mazhar Uddin. The excerpts of the interview are given below: 

"Shakib [Al Hasan] is 100% fine and ready for the first match,” Shanto said during the toss for their second warm-up match against defending champions England at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati today.

Amid all the rumours surrounding the announcement of the World Cup squad, the focus on Bangladesh's performance in their third and series-deciding encounter against New Zealand took a back seat at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Zakir Hasan came out to bat as play started 20 minutes later than schedule due to rain in the third match of the ODI series against New Zealand in Mirpur on Tuesday.

Some of that expectation had been curbed by the performances in the recent Asia Cup. Following the multi-nation event, coach Chandika Hathurusingha had said in an interview that those who are dreaming of winning the World Cup should wake up from their sleep.

Bangladesh's in-form top-order batter Najmul Hossain Shanto said that the players still have the same dream as before regarding the World Cup, contradicting the views of head coach Chandika Hathurusingha.

The reality exposed in the ongoing Asia Cup for Bangladesh has certainly compelled Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the team management to only hope that their best players will be available for the upcoming World Cup in October.

There is no way to justify crucifying the 24-year-old batter solely for his 20-run innings against Pakistan in Wednesday's Asia Cup Super Four match in Lahore. Instead, the manner in which he keeps throwing his wicket away after showing a glimpse of promise deserves serious consideration ahead of the World Cup.

A hamstring injury suffered against Afghanistan on Sunday forced Shanto’s exit from the continental tournament.

Najmul Hossain Shanto has been ruled out from the Asia Cup after the left handed batter suffered a hamstring injury, confirmed Bangladesh Cricket Board through a press release on Tuesday.

With Bangladesh getting twin centuries, from Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehedi Hasan Miraz, only for the fifth time in ODIs, the crucial role that the Tigers' bowling unit played to beat Afghanistan by 89 runs went under the radar in Lahore on Sunday.

Centurions of the game against Afghanistan Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehedi Hasan Miraz entered their names on the Gaddafi Stadium honours board on Sunday.

Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehedi Hasan Miraz laid the platform for a huge score before the bowlers turned up with a spirited display to allow Bangladesh place one foot in the Asia Cup's Super Four stage as the Tigers won by 89 runs against Afghanistan on a batting-friendly wicket at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium yesterday.

Bangladesh confirmed the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup by bouncing back with a comprehensive 89-run win over Afghanistan in their final group-stage game in Lahore yesterday.

Just prior to the Asia Cup, on August 25, coinciding with his birthday, Shanto became a father for the first time.

A thumping victory over Afghanistan in the one-off Test in Mirpur saw Bangladesh batters Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque gain significantly in the ICC Test batters rankings.

Bangladesh's stand-in skipper, Liton Das, informed that he could not have asked for more after the way his sealed a record 546-run win over Afghanistan in the fourth day of the lone Test in Mirpur on Saturday.

Najmul Hossain Shanto struck his second ton inside three days, picking up his fourth Test ton and in the process becoming just the second Bangladeshi score centuries in both innings of a Test match. Shanto achieved the feat with Mominul Haque batting at the other end, the batter who was first to record the feat for the Tigers. Their lean patches may have certain similarities, but for Shanto it was all about delivering after a show of faith and letting his bat do the talking for him.