Simmons urges Bangladesh to switch to ODI mode

The Bangladesh players have been playing T20 cricket in recent weeks. © AFP
Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons said on Monday that his charges need to shift their mindset from T20 cricket as they prepare for the Champions Trophy.

While some countries are preparing by playing bilateral ODI cricket between themselves, it is not the same for Bangladesh as they are going into the Champions Trophy on the back of playing the Bangladesh Premier League, country's lone franchise-based T20 tournament.

Bangladesh started their preparation at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium from February 8. "I agree that it is not the best preparation. But they were playing white-ball cricket, which means that they are sharp skills-wise. 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," Phil Simmons told reporters on Monday.

"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 are getting ourselves prepared to bat for 50 overs," he said.

"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 the start the competition well. We will get familiar conditions in Pakistan after that," he said.

"We have not seen any residue from the BPL in the days of training camp so far. Players are looking to get time in the middle, to get into the frame of mind of batting long and bowling in the right areas in 50-over cricket. I don't think it is going to affect them in any way," he added.

Simmons added that though national skipper Najmul Hossain failed to find a place regularly in the playing XI of champions Fortune Barishal in the tournament, it will not be problem for him as he possesses a strong mentality.

"He (Najmul) was working very hard when he wasn't playing. We are going to need a strong mental attitude from everyone in the team. I think (Shanto) possesses that, so I look forward to continue to his work," said Simmons.

Simmons added that pace bowler Nahid Rana is getting into his groove after getting some rest following the BPL. "He( Nahid Rana) has looked slower than normal in the last couple of games. The run-up was less than normal approaching the wicket. They got knocked out early so he had a bit of rest. He looked sharp in training yesterday. The pace was coming back. The run-up was as quick as it was in the Caribbean," said Simmons.

Simmons added that Liton Kumar Das, who failed to make the cut in the Champions Trophy squad due to bad form, will be missed in the tournament but at the same time he is working hard to get back sooner than later.

"Obviously he (Liton) was disappointed with not being selected but I think he has taken it on the chin. He was working on his batting during the BPL. We saw him come back into a bit of form. You will miss a player like him, but at the same time, we all know that he has accepted the fact that he wasn't scoring runs when the team was being selected. He is working very hard to get back," said the former opener from West Indies.

Simmons added that he feels they can go all the way in the Champions Trophy if they can put their best effort. "I won't be here if I didn't believe (that we can go all the way). I think you prepare as best as you could when you go into a tournament. On that day, you play your best games. That's why I look to do, on every occasion. I think we have made a lot of strides in the Caribbean. I think we have a good chance once we play to the best of our ability."

Meanwhile, it was learnt that pace bowler Hasan Mahmud will be a part of Bangladesh's initial preparation phase for the ICC Champions Trophy but will return home once the tournament begins. The Bangladesh team is set to leave for the UAE on February 14, where they will play a warm-up match against Pakistan A before starting their Champions Trophy campaign.

Their first match is scheduled against India in Dubai on February 20, followed by key clashes against New Zealand and Pakistan in Rawalpindi on February 24 and 27, respectively.