Phil Simmons hopes to get Bangladesh back in ODI rhythm soon with the Bangladesh Premier League just concluded.
Phil Simmons is confident that the players can get themselves accustomed to the format despite not playing an ODI since December.
Some of the players showed up for a training session at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka the day after the BPL concluded on February 7. The majority of these were cricket players whose BPL teams had lost before the championship game. The team will train in Dhaka till February 12 before departing for the Champions Trophy, where they will play their opening match on February 20 against India in Dubai.
In an attempt to change their focus from Twenty20 Internationals to One-Day Internationals (ODIs) before the Champions Trophy, Bangladesh is packing more training sessions into their calendar.
“I agree that it is not the best preparation, but they were playing white-ball cricket, which means that they are sharp skills-wise,” Simmons said. “We have to get their minds up to 50-over cricket in the next six or seven days. They have the skills. They are performing. It is about getting to that 50-over mentality now. We will have double practice sessions in the next couple of days. We bat and bowl in the morning, and then do the same under the lights.
“We’re getting ourselves prepared to bat for 50 overs. The first part of the preparation is about Dubai. Once we can get ourselves in the right frame of mind, and work on the right things for Dubai, I think we can start [preparations for] the rest the competition as well. We will get familiar conditions in Pakistan after that.”
Because he hasn’t played much in the past several months, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is a cause for concern. Due to a hamstring injury, Shanto was unable to participate in the West Indies tour. He last travelled abroad in November of last year. Played five BPL games for Fortune Barishal after returning with the National Cricket League T20s.
“He was working very hard all of those days when he wasn’t playing,” Simmons said. “We are going to need a strong mental attitude from everyone in the team. I think he possesses that, so I look forward to him continuing his work.”