After the loss of Bangladesh first test match against Zimbabwe in Sylhet, fans of Bangladesh Cricket team seem aggressive. Head coach Phil Simmons requested “patience” from fans regarding their loss last week, also adding that the team is “in transition” and needs some time to accomplish their targets.
Phil Simmons joined Bangladesh team as a head coach in October 2024, after that they only won one match out of five Test games and only one ODI out of eight, apart winning a T20 series against West Indies. Bangladesh’s recent loss to Zimbabwe also extended their loss count to six at home ground.
“I ask for patience from the Bangladesh people, I know how passionate they are for the team to do better,” Simmons said on the eve of the second Test in Chattogram.
“I request for patience. We are trying to put the right things in place to get us to play better. We pick players. They play at their tempo. The aggressive part comes into [things like] running between the wickets, attitude when you get to the wicket and attitude on the field. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to score at five runs an over. Some days you can bat at five, other days you will bat at two or three [runs an over].”
Simmons gave the clear instructions to the team to play as a “positive brand” of cricket without being irresponsible.
“I think we know that as a unit we didn’t bat properly in the first innings [against Zimbabwe when they were bowled out for 191]. We put ourselves in problems. We want to play a brand of positive Test cricket, not just going for 200 runs in a day. The word “transition” is mentioned in the press. It will take a bit of time to reach where we want to be.”
“My message to them is that there were a few loose shots and some soft dismissals but we need to make sure that we improve as we go along. We can’t have this for one, two or three Tests [in a row].”
Bangladesh’s main reason to lose the match was absence of their best players. Taskin Ahmed was recovering from injuries while Nahid Rana will join PSL instead of playing a second test match. Simmons said that their pacers including Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed and Tanzim Hasan will try their level best.
“Our pacers have skills,” Simmons said. “Hasan has taken five-fours in Pakistan, which is not far different from here. Khaled has done well. [Tanzim] Sakib hasn’t played that much but we know what he can bring to the attack. We still have the skills and depth from the seamers.”
“I think [Tanzim] can shine in any format, with the lengths he bowls. He is deceptive with his pace. We have seen it with the white ball. He hits the stumps regularly. He gets people caught behind regularly. He also brings a bit of batting, which is always good for the team.”
