"We will go to become champions" - Bangladesh cricketer Jaker Ali makes bold claim for Asia Cup 2025

While the Bangladesh cricket team has recently achieved some great successes in the T20I format, the 27-year-old cricketer Jaker Ali has made a bold comment regarding the nation's expectations for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. 

The United Arab Emirates will host the Asia Cup 2025 between September 9 and 28, 2025, which will be played in the T20I format. Eight teams will participate in the competition, while Bangladesh are in Group B along with Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. 

We are going to the Asia Cup with the goal of becoming champions: Jaker Ali

While Bangladesh have finished runners-up in three Asia Cup editions (2012, 2016, and 2018), including one in the T20I format during its inaugural edition in 2016, the Tigers are desperately waiting for their first Asia Cup title. Bangladesh cricketer Jaker Ali is confident about the team's success in the upcoming edition, as they have the confident goal to win the tournament. 

Jaker Ali said in the press conference, “Of course. This time we are going to the Asia Cup with the goal of becoming champions. Personally, I can say that I am going there only to win the championship. And everyone in the dressing room also believes it. Especially with the environment we have right now and the kind of effort everyone is putting in, we all believe that this time we will go to become champions.”

Recently, Bangladesh won a three-match T20I series against the hosts Sri Lanka by 2-1, and then they claimed another home T20I series against Pakistan, which they won by 2-1 in the three-match series. Just like the other Asian Test-playing nations, the Asia Cup 2025 is very important for Bangladesh as preparation for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which India and Sri Lanka will host next February-March.

See Also: BCCI has decided to conduct a Press Conference to announce Asia Cup 2025 squad

There’s no chance of taking things lightly: Jaker Ali

Bangladesh are in the tough group in the Asia Cup 2025, and they aren't taking any team lightly, as none of the teams can afford a hiccup in the tight group stage. 

Ali added, "There’s no chance of taking things lightly. Our mindset is that our plan will remain the same — the way we usually play our brand of cricket, we’ll play the same way against any team. So we’ll prepare in that manner to ensure we can deliver a good performance."

Bangladesh will start their Asia Cup 2025 journey with the match against Hong Kong on September 11. They will later face Sri Lanka and Afghanistan on September 13 and 16, respectively. The top two teams of the group will advance to the Super Four. Before the Asia Cup 2025, Bangladesh will play a three-match home T20I series against the Netherlands, starting on August 30.