Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com
Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons acknowledged that the team’s preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy has not been ideal, but he remains hopeful that his players will quickly regain their ODI form before the tournament starts.
“I agree that it is not the best preparation. However, they have been playing white-ball cricket, which means their skills are sharp,” Simmons stated during a press conference in Mirpur today.
“We need to get their mindset focused on 50-over cricket in the next six or seven days. They have the skills and are performing well. It’s about shifting to that 50-over mentality now,” he added.
The Bangladesh players are currently engaged in a training camp in Mirpur in anticipation of the Champions Trophy. This camp commenced a day after the conclusion of the 11th Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) final on February 7.
While teams like India, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, and England are occupied with ODI matches leading up to the Champions Trophy, the Tigers have just wrapped up a month-long T20 tournament.
Despite this, Simmons expressed optimism, saying, “We haven’t noticed any lingering effects from the BPL during our training camp so far. The players are eager to spend time in the middle, focusing on batting for longer periods and bowling accurately in 50-over cricket. I don’t believe it will impact them negatively in any way.”
The Bangladesh team is set to depart for the UAE in the early hours of February 14 and will face India in their opening Group A match on February 20
