Bangladesh should have prepared themselves by playing active cricket matches

The Bangladesh cricket team during a training session, Dhaka, January 20, 2015

Most of the teams who will participate in the upcoming ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand are busy in playing active cricket matches. Australia, England and India are playing a triangular one-day tournament in Australia, Sri Lanka are busy playing against New Zealand in New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies are playing against each other in a five-match one-day series in South Africa, while Pakistan will fly to New Zealand for a two-match one-day international.

Meanwhile, the Associate teams of this World Cup – Ireland, Scotland and Afghanistan – have already participated in a triangular tournament in Dubai recently.

So, except Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, the rest of the teams are preparing for the World Cup by playing active cricket matches. The Tigers are more concerned about preparing themselves via net practice, routine warm-ups and coaching drills.

But, wouldn’t playing active cricket matches have been a better idea?

No preparation for Australian conditions

Bangladesh were likely to play a preparation tournament organized by the ICC before the 2015 World Cup, along with Zimbabwe and the four Associate qualifiers - Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland and the UAE - in January in Dubai. Sadly, except Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, the rest of the mentioned teams participated in that proposed tournament which just concluded last week.

It’s not known why Bangladesh didn’t take part in that tournament. Even Zimbabwe Cricket had offered Bangladesh a one-day series in January, but the BCB did not approve it.

Anyhow, participating in that tournament would have been highly beneficial for the Tigers as they could have tried and tested the selected players. Moreover, it would have been a great opportunity to take a psychological advantage over Afghanistan and Scotland before meeting them in the main event.

Also, the idea of traveling downunder so late is also not understandable. Bangladesh should have travelled a bit earlier, and played against the domestic teams of Australia and New Zealand. Such an initiative would have been helpful in selecting the ideal playing XI, sorting out the shortcomings and act accordingly and above all, the boys would have been able to adapt themselves with the conditions.

But sadly, no such initiatives were taken by the Bangladesh cricket hierarchy. They preferred training sessions.