‘Bangladesh seek to improve T20 rankings’

The upcoming T20 Afghanistan series is important for Bangladesh to boost their rankings coupled with confidence ahead of the full-fledged West Indies tour as well as ICC World T20 as Courtney Walsh said.

Bangladesh are languishing at 10th place in ICC T20 rankings with 75 points that is 12 less than Afghanistan, who placed eighth with 87 points. Sri Lanka lies between them with 85 points.

Bangladesh seek to improve their T20 rankings before the next ICC World T20 so that they could get direct and smooth access to step into the extravaganza event which will be played in Australia in 2020.

“After Afghanistan series, we will go to play in West Indies, and then the World Cup is coming up. I think it’s important to keep playing competitive cricket though it might not be 50 overs,” said Courtney Walsh, who was announced head coach by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for the Afghanistan series following his successful stint in the last Nidahas Cup Trophy in Sri Lanka.

“But you can get confidence from any sort of competition. I don’t think our cricketers play as much cricket as some other countries. The more we play, the better chance we have of improving,” Walsh told media during the pre-tour press conference at the Media Block of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

The 55-year-old said that they will come out on top if they could play to their strength and depth against the improved Afghan side.

“I don’t think we should be thinking that way. We’ve a series to play. We have to be positive and back ourselves. We have to be confident, and not think about losing,” the quinquagenarian coach said.

“Afghanistan has a good team but if we play to our strength and depth, we should come out on top,” he also said.

“The moment you are thinking of losing, then you get doubts and you don’t perform at your best,” he added.

When asked him about favourite team in the series, the West Indies former bowling legend did not say which team is favourite but said that the series will be good and keen contest.

“We will play them in India. They are ahead of us in the T20 rankings, which we are mindful of,” Walsh, who is also fast-bowling coach of the Tigers, responded.

“I think it will be a very good, keen contest. I am backing my team to do job. We are not going to be complacent,” he continued.

“We are hungry, and we want to get up in the ranking before the World T20 in 2020. We will be up for it,” he added.

Citing Mustafizur Rahman, the fast-bowling coach said that all the pacers in the battery to put their hands up against the opposition side to fare well in the series.

“At the moment he has a slight toe problem. He is not 100 per cent now. We have given him a couple of days off. We want him firing when we get to India. He has improved quite a lot. His strength has come back. I think he is getting there in his pace. I think he will deliver in India,” he said of Mustafizur Rahman.

“The bowlers have to put their hands up, but not just Rubel or Fizz. Whichever seam bowler we use, we want them to stand out,” he insisted.

“Our spinners have always been consistent,” he told.

Bangladesh seek to improve T20 rankings

The upcoming T20 Afghanistan series is important for Bangladesh to boost their rankings coupled with confidence ahead of the full-fledged West Indies tour as well as ICC World T20 as Courtney Walsh said. Bangladesh are languishing at 10th place in ICC T20 rankings with 75 points that is 12 less than Afghanistan, who placed eighth with 87 points. Sri Lanka lies between them with 85 points. Bangladesh seek to improve their T20 rankings before the next ICC World T20 so that they could get direct and smooth access to step into the extravaganza event which will be played in Australia in 2020. After Afghanistan series, we will go to play in West Indies, and then the World Cup is coming up. I think its important to keep playing competitive cricket though it might not be 50 overs, said Courtney Walsh, who was announced head coach by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for the Afghanistan series following his successful stint in the last Nidahas Cup Trophy in Sri Lanka. But you can get confidence from any sort of competition. I dont think our cricketers play as much cricket as some other countries. The more we play, the better chance we have of improving, Walsh told media during the pre-tour press conference at the Media Block of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. The 55-year-old said that they will come out on top if they could play to their strength and depth against the improved Afghan side. I dont think we should be thinking that way. Weve a series to play. We have to be positive and back ourselves. We have to be confident, and not think about losing, the quinquagenarian coach said. Afghanistan has a good team but if we play to our strength and depth, we should come out on top, he also said. The moment you are thinking of losing, then you get doubts and you dont perform at your best, he added. When asked him about favourite team in the series, the West Indies former bowling legend did not say which team is favourite but said that the series will be good and keen contest. We will play them in India. They are ahead of us in the T20 rankings, which we are mindful of, Walsh, who is also fast-bowling coach of the Tigers, responded. I think it will be a very good, keen contest. I am backing my team to do job. We are not going to be complacent, he continued. We are hungry, and we want to get up in the ranking before the World T20 in 2020. We will be up for it, he added. Citing Mustafizur Rahman, the fast-bowling coach said that all the pacers in the battery to put their hands up against the opposition side to fare well in the series. At the moment he has a slight toe problem. He is not 100 per cent now. We have given him a couple of days off. We want him firing when we get to India. He has improved quite a lot. His strength has come back. I think he is getting there in his pace. I think he will deliver in India, he said of Mustafizur Rahman. The bowlers have to put their hands up, but not just Rubel or Fizz. Whichever seam bowler we use, we want them to stand out, he insisted. Our spinners have always been consistent, he told.