Bangladesh batting consultant Jamie Siddons believes that there can’t be better preparation than playing against New Zealand and Pakistan ahead of the approaching ICC T20 World Cup starting this month in Australia.
The Bangladesh national team is scheduled to play in the tri-nation series in New Zealand involving the two top-ranked line-ups in imilar conditions like Australia as a part of the build-up for the upcoming marquee tournament
‘There can’t be better preparation than this. New Zealand were finalists in the last edition of the T20 World Cup while Pakistan were also a tremendous side,'said Siddons on Tuesday in Lincoln.
'If we can challenge them, we would be moving forward towards a superb build-up for the World Cup,’ he added.
Bangladesh reached Lincoln earlier on Sunday but had no training on Monday; therefore, they roamed around the city.
The visitors have started their training session on the next day ahead of the multi-nation contention at Lincoln amid the absenteeism of the skipper, Shakib Al Hasan and pace bowling coach Allan Donald.
Shakib, who missed the recently concluded two T20Is against the United Arab Emirates due to his Caribbean Premier League commitment for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, is expected to join the team on Thursday.
Conversely, Allan Donald, who is currently staying in South Africa, has failed to attend the training camp and will also miss the first game in the tri-nation on the back of ticket complications.
In their first-day training, Bangladesh batsmen and bowlers held their skill training inside the indoor venue.
Siddons acknowledged that the chilling atmosphere in Lincoln, which is almost the same as in Australia, would help them greatly to prepare for the upcoming flagship competition.
‘We came from 40 degree Celsius in the United Arab Emirates, so we are enjoying this atmosphere. conditions resembling the same [Australia] with fantastic indoor facilities,’ he said.
‘Since this the early part of the season, consequently, the conditions of Hagley Oval would be the same as Australia.’
During the recently concluded two T20Is against the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh team management opted for the makeshift opening pair Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Sabbir Rahman, with missing the services of their in-form batsman Liton Das due to injury concerns.
Apart from them, there are a few more youngsters like Najmul Hossain, Yasir Ali Chowdury, and Hasan Mahmud in the Tigers squad that excites the veteran coach vastly ahead of the two major battles.
‘Sabbir- Miraz have opened. The pair is different from Tamim and Miraz. Liton is at number three or four. There are also a few senior campaigners. However, the young side is highly motivated to do what we want.’
Bangladesh is scheduled to commence their tri-nation series campaign against Pakistan on October 7 before they take on New Zealand on October 9 in their second match.
In their second tie, the Tigers will face the same opponents on October 12 and Pakistan on the following day in their remaining matches of the double-league format tournament.
The top two teams from the league will progress to the final, that will be held on October 14.
