Khairul Alam; Sports Desk,Dhaka– The conditioning camp for the Bangladesh ‘A’ team, which began with a mix of gym sessions, running, and specialized fielding drills, concluded on Monday.
While the preparations under trainers and coaches have been hailed as “specific and disciplined,” concerns remain regarding the stability of the middle-order batting ahead of the upcoming New Zealand series.
A Diverse Training Regime
From March 27 to April 3, the camp maintained a festive yet competitive atmosphere. Under the guidance of James Pamment, cricketers engaged in high-intensity fielding classes, while fitness trainer Iftekhar Rahman Ifti integrated running with cricket skills.
The skill camp, which started on April 4, introduced a spin-bowling machine to test the likes of Soumya Sarkar and Towhid Hridoy. Chief Selector Habibul Bashar and Batting Coach Mohammad Ashraful both expressed satisfaction with the discipline and specific nature of the sessions.
Saif’s Century Highlights Practice Match
On the final day of the camp, the cricketers were divided into two groups for a practice match. Saif Hassan was the standout performer, smashing an unbeaten 138 off 133 balls, including 6 boundaries and 8 sixes. His ton powered Team ‘A’, led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, to a total of 292 in 50 overs.
However, the rest of the scorecard told a different story. Despite Saif’s brilliance, other key batters struggled to convert starts:
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Towhid Hridoy: 25 runs
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Afif Hossain: 34 runs
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Tanzim Hasan Sakib: 27 runs
This inability of the middle order to post big scores remains a headache for the management as they head into the white-ball series.
Ashraful Warns Against Complacency
Though New Zealand has arrived with what many call a “second-string” side, batting coach Mohammad Ashraful issued a stern warning.
“New Zealand is ranked number two in the world. Even their ‘B’ team is formidable. Players in backup squads are often more dangerous because they have nothing to lose, and playing against unfamiliar faces is always a challenge,” Ashraful told reporters.
The selection panel has decided to retain the same 15-member squad that played against Pakistan. With the Kiwis having arrived in two phases last night, Miraz and his men are set for a tough test on home soil.