Simmons downplays talk of chaos in Bangladesh camp

DHAKA, Bangladesh (CMC):

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons has dismissed claims that his side is distracted ahead of its upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies.

His comments follow the removal of batting coach Mohammad Ashraful just days before tomorrow’s opening Test.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board announced on Saturday that Ashraful had been reassigned from his role, with high-performance coach Mohammad Salahuddin set to take charge on an interim basis.

Bangladesh’s performances in the United Arab Emirates earlier this month also contributed to the uncertainty surrounding the team. They drew a one-off Test against Afghanistan before returning home empty-handed from the ODI tri-series after losing both matches against Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.

“Is this the first time there’s chaos before a match? Every series is important. Those that we played earlier in the year were important too, but the thing is how we go about our preparation for the series.

“I think that the group that was here have been excellent in the last three or four days. They’ve been doing their work and now the whole team joins together. It’s what we do over the next two days. It’s not what’s happening outside, it’s what we do as a team to prepare,” Simmons said.

Simmons insisted that the team remained focused heading into the series against the West Indies, which is seen as crucial to Bangladesh’s hopes of securing an unlikely spot in the World Test Championship final.

They are currently fourth in the standings in the current cycle.

“I think everyone is very focused on the Test match. The same in the Test match in Abu Dhabi, I think everyone was focused on the Test match and what’s in front of them.

“I think there’s that goal and that desire to play in the World Test Championship, and this is the first time we’ve had that opportunity to be there. So I think everyone is going to be up and ready for the Test matches,” Simmons said.