Bangladesh has started their World Cup 2023 journey with a convincing win.

In the Tiger’s opening match at the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, the Bangladesh fans saw another all-rounder come to bat at one-down, hit a half-century to steady the innings following a rocky start and snap up three wickets with the ball. This ‘2019 Shakibesque’ performance came from Mehedi Hasan Miraz.

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

The last time Bangladesh played in Dharamshala was back in 2016 during the ICC T20 World Cup. In that match against Oman, Tamim Iqbal made history by becoming the first Bangladeshi to score a century in the format. Even though Tamim is not a part of this World Cup campaign but, thanks to the fans, his presence was felt at the picturesque Dharamshala stadium during Bangladesh’s match yesterday. A number of Bangladesh supporters in the gallery were seen holding up a placard written, ‘We will never forget you’ with Tamim’s picture, reminiscing the contributions of the former Bangladesh captain.

Bangladesh ODI skipper Shakib Al Hasan said he is certain that his fast bowlers will have a lot to say going forward in the tournament after Bangladesh got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start with a six-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Dharamshala on Saturday.

Shakib raised his World Cup wickets tally to 37 in the prestigious event, surpassing a few greats of the game.

Four years back, the country’s top all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan, was engulfed by the type of pressure that all athletes feel at least once in their careers: the pressure of not performing on the field. 

Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha was in no mood to be drawn into controversies ahead of the team’s opening match against Afghanistan on Saturday, especially after the build-up to the mega event had been dogged with controversies more than on-field performances.

The Bangladesh team took part in its first training session in Dharamshala yesterday ahead of the Word Cup opener as the players try to put the chaotic buildup to the tournament in the rearview and take the field as a united unit.

When Mushfiqur Rahim hit the winning boundary to upset India in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbeans, people had already gotten a glimpse of the talents who would lead Bangladesh cricket in the coming years.

On Friday, after Mehedi Hasan Miraz came out for the toss for Bangladesh’s warm-up match against Sri Lanka in Guwahati, naturally the viewers started to wonder where Shakib Al Hasan was.

Who is to blame for the unpleasant episode between the two stalwarts?

The Bangladesh captain said that he is uninterested in personal achievements and is only concerned about contributing to team's success.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play two of their initial World Cup matches in Dharamsala.

In ODI cricket, Shakib shone at the 2019 World Cup where he scored 606 runs in eight matches, surpassing the record of Sachin Tendulkar for most runs in a group stage.

Bangladesh team director Khaled Mahmud felt the team need to focus on having a good World Cup and let go of whatever had transpired during the squad-selection announcement and the subsequent feud between Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan.

The arguments breaking out on social media and in real life about the Shakib-Tamim saga have already been quite toxic.

"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.

The Bangladesh team will play their second warm-up match against England today before moving to Dharamsala, where they will play their first match of the World Cup against Afghanistan on October 7.

The all-rounder, during the second part of his interview with T Sports, said that he saw for the first time in his life that a captain announced his retirement after playing the first game of a series.