Streak vows to give tough fight
Hathurusinghas Sri Lanka arrive in Dhaka
Sports Reporter
Though Heath Streak describes Zimbabwe as underdog in the tri-angular series, he said that they have enough ammunition in the current contingent who can give tough fight against other cricket nations outside their home territory what they showed against Sri Lanka last year.
But Streak also said that they have a long way to go as a team to show off themselves in the cricket world.
We still have a long way to go. In this series, were the underdogs but I still feel that we have got the quality of players we need to take Zimbabwe cricket forward, said Heath Streak, got the tincture of home after coming back in Dhaka having charged a two-year-sting in Bangladesh as fast bowling coach.
We showed against Sri Lanka last year that we can compete against other countries outside our home territory. It was very pleasing but we have a long way to go as a team, Streak told media before holding their first practice session in Mirpur after arrival in Dhaka yesterday.
The head coach said that playing in BPL of Zimbabwean players will benefit them in the tri-nation series. Cremer, Raza, Waller and Mire definitely will help us with a bit of information about some of the newer players. They would also know what the conditions are like, which would help them in the series, he viewed.
Zimbabwe former fast bowler said that Bangladesh stint will not be advantage for them but their players know eight what they have to do here to fare well in the series.
I hope not. If I did my job well, it would be more difficult for our guys to perform. I think for me, knowing the wicket, conditions and some of the players; but like I said, I think most of us have played them enough to know what they would do, he said.
When asked about the upcoming series as a reunion series for the participating teams as former Bangladesh coaches are at two different tents, Steak differed with question and said that the tough challenge lies ahead of them all to play well in the tournament.
These days a lot of coaches are part of a team and become opposition. I had a good relation with Chandika and Khaled Sujon, the technical director. I think it will be a good challenge for all of us, he said.
We know the conditions and players, so does Chandika. I think a lot of these Sri Lankan and Zimbabwean guys play in the BPL. There arent many secrets out there anymore. It is about coming up with good plans and technical advice for the teams and making sure you execute those skills well, he added.
But the Zimbabwe coach said that winning against Sri Lanka will be a big boost of their confidence to compete against their rival teams in Tri-angular series.
Itll give us the belief and the confidence to compete. We havent played a lot of one-day cricket off late. Weve played more Tests while SL have played 16 ODIs since we last played them. We havent played any, he said.
Weve prepared well and hopefully we can get into the series as quickly as possible and then get some good results early on, he also said.
Captain Graeme Cremer shared the same sentiment and said that their BPL stint will help them a lot to fare well in the meet.
I learnt a lot about the Bangladesh players (and a few Sri Lankan players) during the BPL. It will be really good for us. The input from Raza and Malcolm will also help us a lot in the tri-series, Graeme Cremer said.
I think its very close to call. Each team has their ways of playing one-day cricket. All three teams have good spinners. I think it will come down to which team fields the best, Cremer said.
Each team, on their day, can beat one another. It will be a very good tri-series, I think, he added.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka, the other team of the tri-nation series led by all-rounder Angelo Mathews arrived here in Dhaka to play the series yesterday. They will hold their maiden practice session at the BCB-National Cricket Academy (NCA) ground today.
