As the dust settles on Bangladesh's hard-fought T20I series victory in Sri Lanka, the immediate focus shifts to an alarmingly tight turnaround for their upcoming T20I series against Pakistan, starting from Sunday. While the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is commendably aiming for squad stability ahead of the Asia Cup and next year's T20 World Cup, one has to question whether this admirable objective is coming at the expense of crucial preparation.
BCB cricket operations chairman Najmul Abedeen Fahim's desire for a "complete side" before the Asia Cup is understandable. Consistency is indeed a virtue in T20 cricket, a format where settled combinations often thrive. His emphasis on avoiding "unnecessary changes" and "too much experimentation" rings true, particularly given past struggles in major tournaments.
However, the reality facing the Tigers is stark. A gruelling 5:00 AM flight back from Colombo, followed by just one full training day before facing Pakistan on July 20th, leaves precious little time for rest, recovery, or tactical adjustments. While Fahim suggests "a great degree of preparation is possibly not needed" for a team "within matches," this overlooks the nuances of T20 cricket and the distinct challenges of different opposition and home conditions. Bangladesh's historical Achilles' heel in T20Is has often been their batting on challenging tracks. Players and pundits alike have long championed the need for better practice wickets at home that simulate the high-scoring surfaces expected in India and Sri Lanka.
Yet, the current frantic schedule, coupled with the ever-present threat of monsoon rains keeping pitches under covers, severely curtails any genuine opportunity for such vital preparation.
Fahim's aspiration to prepare on "good wickets where 200 runs are scored" is noble, but how can this be achieved with a squad that barely has time to unpack their bags, let alone fine-tune their games on bespoke surfaces? The risk here is clear: by prioritising a continuous playing schedule in the name of stability, the BCB might inadvertently be setting up their batters for another familiar struggle when the major tournaments arrive.
While stability is a worthy goal, it should not supersede the fundamental need for adequate physical and technical preparation. One wonders if a slightly more staggered schedule, perhaps even sacrificing a minor series for quality training blocks, might ultimately serve the Tigers better in their quest for global T20 glory. For now, it seems, the Tigers are being asked to hit the ground running at a pace that could leave them breathless when it matters most
