Bangladesh national team head coach Phil Simmons admitted that the team鈥檚 preparation for the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy was inadequate, but the Tigers have the skills to switch to ODI mode from T20 before the championship began in the UAE on February 19.
The 15-member squad was busy with the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League, the country鈥檚 franchise-based T20 tournament.
The training camp started on Saturday, which will continue till Wednesday before the team leaves for the UAE on February 14.
Bangladesh are pitted in Group A with India, New Zealand, and Pakistan and will begin their campaign against India on February 20 in Dubai.
India are currently playing a bilateral series against England at home, whereas Pakistan and New Zealand are busy in a tri-nation series with South Africa.
However, Bangladesh鈥攚ho last played an ODI in December鈥攚ill enter the tournament after playing the sole practice match, which is scheduled on February 15 against a Pakistan A side.
鈥極ne thing I鈥檒l put is that they were playing cricket, and they were playing white ball cricket, which means they鈥檙e sharp skills-wise,鈥� Simmons told the reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday.
鈥業 think over the next six or seven days we have to get our minds, not our minds, but their minds, up to 50 over cricket.
鈥楢nd the skills are there; we鈥檝e seen them performing, so it鈥檚 about getting that 50-over mentality now,鈥� added the former Caribbean all-rounder.
Simmons also believed that the long 20-over tournament would have no mental effect on his players.
鈥楲ook, we鈥檝e had two days now with the start of the camp, and in those two days I have seen no residue from BPL in the players that have been there so far,鈥� said Simmons.
鈥業 just see players looking to get time in the middle and get that frame of mind about being long and bowling in the right areas for 50-over cricket. So I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 going to affect them in any way.鈥�
The team will also have a double practice session to make up for the lack of preparation.
鈥榃e have a double session in practice over the next couple of days, where we bat in the morning, we bowl in the morning, and the same in the evening under the light so we get ourselves prepared for batting for 50 overs,鈥� said Simmons.
When it comes to lack of match practice, the biggest concern would be with the captain himself. Najmul Hossain Shanto was benched for most of the BPL by his team, Fortune Barishal.
Shanto was out of form and last played for the eventual champion franchise on January 16.
Simmons said that Shanto has been working hard. 鈥楾he one thing I鈥檒l tell you about him is that he鈥檚 been working very hard all the days when he didn鈥檛 play. He knew he wasn鈥檛 playing beforehand, so he came, and he did his work,鈥� he said.
The head coach also mentioned that Shanto would need a strong mentality to cope with the pressure.
鈥業t鈥檚 going to be a strong, I would say, mental attitude from everyone in the team,鈥� said Simmons.
鈥楢nd as the previous question asks, it鈥檚 now 50-over matches being played, and the skipper didn鈥檛 play much. And you鈥檙e correct, but a strong mental attitude is going to be needed, and I think that he possesses that, so I look forward to him continuing to work from today.鈥�
Simmons also admitted that pace sensation Nahid Rana was overused in the BPL by his franchise, the Rangpur Riders. But according to him, the 22-year-old now found his mojo back.
鈥楾he pace was coming back, and his run-up was as quick as it was when we were in the Caribbean,鈥� said Simmons.
