Bangladesh cricket is experiencing a tumultuous period, but newly appointed head coach Phil Simmons is determined to keep the focus on the upcoming Test series against South Africa.
Simmons, who replaced Chandika Hathurusinghe on Tuesday, faces a challenging task. Shakib Al Hasan, the team’s star all-rounder, has withdrawn from the Test side due to ongoing protests against him. Additionally, Hathurusinghe has publicly criticized the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) since his dismissal.
Despite these distractions, Simmons is adamant about maintaining the team’s concentration on the cricket. “Our job is to keep the players focused on the cricket and not on the outside noise,” he said. “We can control how we prepare for Monday, and that’s how we’re trying to get the team to focus.”
Simmons brings a wealth of coaching experience to the role, having worked with several international teams and T20 franchises. He believes his past experiences will be invaluable in preparing Bangladesh for the Test series.
“Afghanistan helped me with the language barrier sometimes. Ireland helped me with developing young players. It all comes in handy at the end of the day,” he said.
Simmons has been impressed by the young players in the Bangladesh squad, particularly their performance in the recent Test series win against Pakistan. He believes they have the potential to beat South Africa, who have not won a Test series in the subcontinent in the last ten years.
“Bangladesh are usually very strong at home. So it is a very good opportunity for us to win the Test series,” Simmons said. “South Africa has that record hanging over their head, but they are a resilient team. They will work hard to change that.”
Simmons is confident in Bangladesh’s chances, but he is also wary of taking South Africa lightly. He believes the team must prepare thoroughly and execute their plans effectively to achieve success.
