Less preparation leads the Tigers to a fiasco
Senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin, Cricfrenzy
While Simmons admitted that there were some shortcomings in their training sessions, Shanto expressed confidence, stating that the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) had provided ample preparation and that the batters were already in good form.
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However, Bangladesh's campaign in the Champions Trophy has not gone according to plan. Consecutive losses to India and New Zealand have knocked them out of the tournament, with one group match against Pakistan still to play.
In the pre-match press conference on Thursday, senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin acknowledged the lack of preparation and attributed it to planning issues.
“Our preparation had some gaps. South Africa and New Zealand came to Pakistan for a tri-nation series. These decisions weren’t made suddenly; they were planned a year ahead. If we could have wrapped up the BPL 15 days earlier, it would have been better. I believe it was possible with a bit of effort.” Salahuddin said.
Before departing for the tournament, Shanto had boldly stated that Bangladesh would aim to win the Champions Trophy. With the team's early exit, questions arose regarding his statement.
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Coach Salahuddin defended Shanto, saying, “What else should he have said? That we are only here to participate? He is the captain, and it is natural for him to dream big.”
Despite the upcoming match against Pakistan being a dead rubber, Salahuddin emphasized that the team would play to win.
He noted that while there is nothing left to gain in the tournament, there is still a lot for the team to achieve. “Every match is important and offers a learning opportunity. Sometimes, a single match can change a cricketer’s life,” he added.
Bangladesh will face Pakistan at 3:00 PM (BST) on Thursday in Rawalpindi. Like Bangladesh, Pakistan has also been eliminated from the tournament after losses to India and New Zealand. However, there is a looming threat of rain, with weather forecasts suggesting the match might be abandoned.
