HP eyeing to provide players with World T20 in focus
Photo- CF
||CF Correspondent||
As Bangladesh Cricket Board ‘s (BCB) all strategies and plan is at the moment revolving around the World T20, High Performance (HP) Unit is gearing up to produce players to thrive in this format.
While Bangladesh managed to do well in ODI cricket and made them one of the top guns in this format, they are yet to decode the T20 version in which they time and again showed their vulnerability.
Considering their shortcomings in the newest format of the cricket, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) devised a plan and the HP is given the duty to materialize it.
Bangladesh however needs to overcome qualifying matches first to make them available in tournament proper when the World T20 starts in Australia.
“There is enough potential but the T20 is a very tough game. We will play our three qualifying games at Bellerive and Hobart. They are very long straight, small square and very good wicket. We need wicket-takers upfront in the power-plays and we need strong versatile players who can hit strong straight and obviously square in the small boundaries. T20 players need to be strong, fast and agile in the field. Wickets upfront, good death bowling, I think we have been good with that,” Bangladesh’s HP head coach Simon Helmut said.
As an Australian, Helmut however has wide knowledge on Australian wicket, which the BCB thinks help them to find out T20 players who can strive in Aussie condition.
“Mustafizur and Saifuddin have been good with the death bowling. We need good partnership with smart batting. Mushfiqur Rahim is a brilliant batsman, we see that in BPL, we see that when he plays for the country. We need some supports around him and obviously, Shakib Al Hasan is a wonderful all-rounder, I think we just need few more guys maybe putting a bit more pressure on us. And it's a positive thing then we can have some players who are going be in good form come October of 2020.”
At the moment, Bangladesh has enough talents in the kitty but Helmut said they will continue to look for more.
“I think we have but we are continuing to look for more. That having a talent identification program, a spin bowling program, pace bowling program, batting camps, wicket keeping camps. Our fitness continually needs to be improved. We are giving a high emphasis on our fielding, high emphasis on fitness, strength and conditioning. High emphasis on back foot play because we saw in the World Cup just because it’s a wide ball doesn’t mean we get balls up in good areas, lots of short pitch bowling. So, we are really working hard on those areas and I believe as it’s been the way. Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mushi and Fizz all came through the system. just like these guys are, for example, Biplob, he gets one game, bowls beautifully, he performed. He will be more consistent. Naim Sheikh has also become more consistent. It takes time”
