Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto believes all eight teams competing in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy are quality teams and his team have the ability to win the title. 

Speaking to reporters at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium a day  before leaving for UAE, the Bangladesh captain also said he doesn't believe that his team lacks preparation in ODI format.

"We are going with the target of becoming champions," Shanto told reporters at the press conference.

"I think all the eight teams here deserve to be champions. These eight are quality teams. I have a belief that our team has the capability [of winning the tournament]," he added.

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Concerns over Tigers' CT preparations

The Bangladesh players are currently engaged in a five-day preparation camp in Mirpur ahead of the global event. They will get same number of days for preparation once they reach the UAE on February 14 to play their opening Group A match against India in Dubai on February 20.

In the last couple of months, the Tigers were mostly busy playing Bangladesh Premier League. The last time they played a 50-over games, the format which will be played in in the Champions Trophy featuring eight teams – were in the West Indies in December last year.

However, Shanto doesn't think they lack preparation as most of their batters and bowlers had good preparation in the BPL.

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‘Afghanistan could have a better Champions Trophy than Bangladesh’

"Talking about formats, there are some differences. But I think the way our batters played in the tournament, the wicket in the tournament was good and the conditions we will be playing, we expect even better wickets there," he said.

"The batsmen took a good preparation. It's important how they score from 50-60-70 to 100-130. The bowlers also bowled well. We still have six to seven days and hopefully we will be more organised by then," said the 26-year-old, who however didn't have a BPL season to remember as a batter, scoring only 56 runs in five matches.

I think all the eight teams here deserve to be champions. These eight are quality teams. I have a belief that our team has the capability [of winning the tournament]

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto 

After the end of the UAE campaign, the Bangladesh team will travel to Pakistan for their remaining Group A matches against New Zealand and Pakistan on February 24 and 27 respectively.