Tigers' head coach Phil Simmons urges to switch to ODI mode

FE Team | Published: February 10, 2025 22:46:09

Players of Bangladesh team listen to head coach Phil Simmons at a practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city on Monday- BCB

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, reports Cricbuzz.
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 (BPL), country's lone franchise-based T20 tournament.
Bangladesh started their preparation at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in the city from February 08. "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.