Bangladesh national cricket team will go to West Indies hoping to win the series, said coach Chandika Hathurusinghe on Sunday, as the Tigers signed off their preparations.
Bangladesh will leave home on August 13 for a month-long tour where they will play three-match one-day internationals, a Twenty20 international and two Tests.
‘Obviously we want to win,’ Hathurusinghe told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. ‘We are doing everything possible to have an away win. We are all looking forward to get a good start.’
Bangladesh will kick off the tour with the one-day series – their favourite format – which gets underway on August 20 at Granada.
Hathurusinghe, who will oversee the Tigers in his first series since taking over the charge in July, hoped that a good start can give the Tigers confidence, something they are badly missing at the moment.
‘I mean if we start well it’s always good so we are focussing on doing well in the ODI. Doesn’t matter what format your start with will give you confidence,’ said Hathurusinghe.
The former Sri Lankan Test opener said he was pleased with the way things had turned as far as preparation is concerned that allowed him to see how the players fit into his planning.
Out-of-form Tamim Iqbal showed some signs of regaining his scoring touch and the other batsmen also had spent some time in the middle to get some confidence under their belt.
‘In the practice matches we had a few goals and roles, which we are looking at players for the team,’ said Hathurusinghe.
‘Earlier we had training prior to the Ramadan when we worked on our individual games and after that we focussed on our team game and in those terms I am happy with most of the players what they did,’ he said.
Hathurusinghe added that batting and spin bowling are the biggest strength of the Tigers and feels that pace bowlers are just coming up to take the responsibility.
‘To be honest until we play certain areas of the game we really don’t know but I think our strength is our batting and spin at this stage,’ said Hathurusinghe.
‘Going forward, we have really good fast bowlers coming though they are young or inexperienced, but at this stage if you ask me, batting against spin and as well the spinners [are our strength],’ he said.
The recent form of some spinners also made the coach very little concerned.
‘I think mentally and physically they have done good work,’ Hathurusinghe said of his spinners.
‘I think Dr Phil [Australian psychologist Phil Jauncey] helped them focus on their own game and even skill-wise they worked hard so I think we are in a good place,’ he said.
Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim added that the Tigers are looking forward to cashing in on the demolishing effect of West Indies’ recent defeat to New Zealand on the home soil.
New Zealand beat West Indies 2-1 in three-Test series in June-July.
‘I don’t believe West Indies are going through a very good time,’ said Mushfiq. ‘They lost to New Zealand at home so they must be morally down.
‘One plus point is that we are not going to a bouncy and seaming condition like Australia, South Africa and Australia, though playing overseas is always difficult. There might be some bounce in the wicket always.
‘We have to play a lot better cricket than them in order to have a good result. We have certain plans against them that we need to execute.’
-With New Age input
