Bangladesh recently lost a series 2-1 against the UAE. Right after that, the team traveled to Pakistan. Head coach Phil Simmons believes that the defeat against an associate nation like the UAE will serve as a wake-up call for Bangladesh in the Pakistan series.
Despite the setback, Simmons says the team’s morale remains high. “The morale is great, they’re in a very good mindset. I believe we have a great chance to win this series. People are saying Pakistan is not in great form right now. But what really matters is what happens on the day. I think we have a strong opportunity to win the series,” he said.
Australia’s World Cup-winning pacer Shaun Tait has joined the Bangladesh coaching staff with this series. About Tait’s inclusion, Simmons commented, “I think Shaun Tait is a fantastic addition — not just for the bowlers, but for the whole team.”
Two members of Bangladesh’s coaching staff, Shaun Tait and Mushtaq Ahmed, were involved in coaching roles in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL). Tait was with Karachi Kings, while Mushtaq served as the spin bowling coach for Peshawar Zalmi. Simmons plans to rely on their knowledge for planning this series.
He said, “We’ve just arrived, and we’ll assess the conditions. Shaun has just joined us — he was in the PSL. Mushtaq was also in the PSL. We’ll gather insights from them and make decisions accordingly.”
Pakistan’s squad for this series is missing experienced players like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan. But Simmons is focused on the players who are in the squad rather than those who are absent.
Bangladesh last defeated Pakistan in T20 cricket back in 2016. Simmons believes this could be the best opportunity to break that drought. “I’m not sure if this is the best time to beat Pakistan in T20s, but it’s definitely the time for us to play our best. If we play well, we can win the series. But Pakistan is always a dangerous side. Nothing can be taken for granted.”
