Bangladesh Cricket team’s Head coach Phil Simmons is assured that the players will become prepared for the format despite not participating in an ODI since December. Due to this reason Bangladesh is arranging extra training sessions in their schedule, so that players can shift their minds from T20Is to ODIs because of the upcoming Champions Trophy.
The BPL ended on February 7, and on the next day, some of the players joined a training camp at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. These were mainly players whose BPL teams had been knocked out of the tournament. The team will continue their training sessions in Dhaka till February 12, after which they will leave for the Champions Trophy. On February 20, Bangladesh will play their first match against India in Dubai.
“I agree that it is not the best preparation, but they were playing white-ball cricket, which means that they are sharp skills-wise,” Simmons said. “We have to get their minds up to 50-over cricket in the next six or seven days. They have the skills. They are performing. It is about getting to that 50-over mentality now. We will have double practice sessions in the next couple of days. We bat and bowl in the morning, and then do the same under the lights.”
“We are getting ourselves prepared to bat for 50 overs. The first part of the preparation is about Dubai. Once we can get ourselves in the right frame of mind, and work on the right things for Dubai, I think we can start [preparations for] the rest of the competition as well. We will get familiar conditions in Pakistan after that.”
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is worried, because he hasn’t participated in more games in the last few months. Shanto was not able to participate in the tour of the West Indies due to his hamstring injury. His last international tour was in November 2024. He made his comeback in the National Cricket League T20s, and recently he played five games for Fortune Barishal in the BPL.
“He was working very hard all of those days when he wasn’t playing,” Simmons further said. “We are going to need a strong mental attitude from everyone in the team. I think he possesses that, so I look forward to him continuing his work.”
“I think you prepare as best as you can when you go into a tournament. On that day, you play your best games. That’s what I look to do, on every occasion”. He further added.
According to his current contract, this will be his last tour as a Head Coach. Many questions raised about the future. But Simmons didn’t give any clue about that.
“I won’t be here if I didn’t believe [that we can win],” he responded. “I think you prepare as best as you can when you go into a tournament. On that day, you play your best games. That’s what I look to do, on every occasion. I think we have made a lot of strides in the Caribbean. I think we have a good chance once we play to the best of our ability.”
