Agency :
Bangladesh Head Coach Phil Simmons has emphasised the importance of maintaining Test match standards over preparing spin-friendly tracks for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe. According to him, a good pitch will help the team progress in red-ball cricket.
In Bangladesh, most Test venues-particularly at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital’s Mirpur-is known as spin paradise. However, the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium offers more assistance to fast bowlers, while the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram is traditionally favourable for batters. With the first Test against Zimbabwe scheduled to begin on April 20 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Simmons has expressed his preference for a balanced surface.
“Our plan is to prepare a good pitch, one that will help us move forward as a Test team. I don’t think there’s a need to specifically prepare a spin-friendly wicket for Zimbabwe,” said Simmons.
“We had a look at the surface today, and it seemed firm and of good quality. Let’s see how it looks tomorrow morning. We want to win-regardless of the type of wicket,” he added.
The upcoming Test marks Bangladesh’s return to red-ball cricket after a long break, with their last appearance coming in November 2023 against New Zealand. In preparation, key players like Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz have been training in Sylhet since April 13.
Simmons appeared satisfied with the preparations so far. “The preparation has been excellent. The facilities here feel like a dream-the stadium is close to the hotel, allowing us to maximize our time and work efficiently,” he noted.
While a whitewash might be on the agenda, Simmons remains focused on taking one step at a time. “We’re not thinking about a whitewash just yet. Our immediate goal is to win the first Test. Once we do that, we’ll focus on winning the series. A good first day will be crucial. For now, all our attention is on Sylhet-we’ll think about Chattogram later,” he concluded.
