The lack of match practice can be an issue for the Tigers when they will make their return to Test cricket against Zimbabwe in August after more than a year’s break.
Shakib Al Hasan’s men will get the opportunity to play a four-day practice match against Zimbabwe XI before the lone Test, which will be held at the Harare Sports Club from August 4 to August 8, as the Zimbabwe Cricket Board has agreed to arrange a four-day game instead of the previously proposed three-day match.
The question was however raised whether a lone practice game would be good enough for the Tigers to get accustomed to the longer version after a long gap, as the current inclement weather conditions at home also made it difficult for them to be adequately prepared. Perhaps that is the reason for the hastily improvised training sessions that are prevalent in the current camp.
The Bangladesh team was supposed to make a stopover in South Africa to play a longer-version practice match before going to Zimbabwe, but with only three weeks to go the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) may decide that it would not be a feasible trip for them.
And immediately, the so-called technical committee has suggested an additional four-day match in Zimbabwe, but ultimately it will not happen. Many were surprised by the lack of proper planning. It has bee n a long time since the board have known about the tour and they had enough time to chalk out a proper itinerary after Bangladesh played their last international match against Australia on April 13 this year. Also, they were very much aware of the weather conditions during this season. A well-coordinated programme is expected from the board when there is a chief executive officer (CEO) at the helm.
The real question now is whether Bangladesh’s preparations for the Zimbabwe tour have been ideal, or even adequate, so far?
BCB’s CEO Manzur Ahmed was however not at all unhappy with the way the team has been preparing for the demanding tour. Zimbabwe are all set to make their mark when they play their first Test match after more than five years of self-imposed exile from Tests dating back to January 2006, when senior players boycotted the side due to a dispute with the cricket authorities in the country.
“The absence of a head coach has upset the planning a little bit. Yes it could have been much better but what I want to say is that the preparation the boys are taking is not bad at all. You may say it would be better if there was another four-day practice game, otherwise I think everything is in right place. The physical condition of the players is good,” defended the former cricketer.
Former captain turned selector Habibul Bashar also echoed Manzur’s sentiments and hoped that the cricketers will be able to play a longer-version practice match at Mirpur.
“Actually you can’t expect more in this season. I’m not at all unhappy with the preparation. It’s nice that we have got the opportunity for batting practice at the central wickets which are almost similar to the Zimbabwe ones,” said Bashar.
The successful former Bangladesh skipper was also a little bothered with the fact that captain Shakib and his deputy Tamim Iqbal had to face the hard task of shifting their focus to Test cricket from the T20 games.
“True, Shakib has been playing T20 cricket for a long period of time but the fact is that in between he also played a four-day game. And you know both are class players and I think one four-day game will be good enough for them to adopt to the longer-version cricket,” hoped Bashar
-With The Daily Star input
