Simmons Shrugs Off Bangladesh Chaos: 'Is This The First Time There's Chaos Before A Match?'

Bangladesh begin their two-Test series against West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on October 28 with the familiar sound of off-field turbulence in the background — and head coach Phil Simmons in no mood to pretend the noise is new.

Asked whether he found the swirl of events around the team chaotic, Simmons responded with a shrug and a smile.

"You have been in Bangladesh a lot longer than me. Is this the first time there's chaos before a match? No, right."

He did not elaborate further, and the numbers explain why the questions were being asked in the first place.

A run of results that has put everyone on edge

Bangladesh failed to take seven wickets against Afghanistan in the one-off Test in the UAE — a below-par showing for a side sitting fourth in the ICC World Test Championship standings and still harbouring hopes of reaching the final in the ongoing cycle.

The white-ball record has been no better. Bangladesh failed to win a medal at the Asian Games and then missed out on a place in the final of the recently concluded tri-nation series involving Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.

Discipline under scrutiny

Discipline inside the white-ball squad has also come under the microscope. Some cricketers were fined during the Asian Games for leaving without informing the concerned authorities, while others were blamed after the tri-series debacle for leaving the team hotel to go shopping.

It is understood, however, that those players were not penalised, as they had not breached the team curfew.

What Tamim's two-and-a-half-hour meeting was really about

When BCB president Tamim Iqbal sat down with the team for two and a half hours following the defeat to Zimbabwe in the tri-nation series, it looked to many like the board's top brass pressing the panic button.

Tamim had also appeared visibly disappointed while addressing the national team in the dressing room after that loss. But Cricbuzz understands this was not one of the review sessions of the past, where the board president would use the occasion to criticise the cricketers and team management.

This time, Tamim sat down with members of the team management and five senior cricketers — Najmul Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Kumar Das and Mushfiqur Rahim — and was instead keen to hear suggestions on how to take Bangladesh cricket forward.

Simmons, who was present, echoed that sentiment.

"The meeting was more about the things that we need to put together to push Bangladesh cricket forward. And it was a very good meeting where we talked about how we develop young players and other things like that and how we move forward with Bangladesh cricket. It wasn't a hindrance because it was not about the series. It was about Bangladesh cricket in general and how we move it forward."

Coaching change raises eyebrows

The board's decision to remove Mohammad Ashraful as batting coach just ahead of the West Indies series, without naming a long-term successor, added another layer of uncertainty to the build-up — one of several loose threads Simmons was asked to address.

Litton's fitness and an imperfect preparation

Simmons said he expected Litton Kumar Das to be available for the opening Test, despite lingering doubts over the wicketkeeper-batter's fitness.

"As far as I know, Litton Kumar is available. Over the next two days, if things change, I'll let you all know, but right now he's available."

The squad's preparation has also been squeezed by the calendar. Several longer-format players joined the Test camp only after completing their tri-nation series commitments, and Simmons conceded the arrangement was not ideal — while pointing out that nobody was idle.

"We didn't get the whole team because we were in the middle of a series. We were in the middle of a tri-nation series and it just so happens that quite a few of our players who play in both ODI and Test cricket were involved. So no, it's not the total ideal situation but the guys weren't sitting down as they were playing cricket. So there's still a lot there and it's just for these two days for us to put things together as a whole squad."

The World Test Championship carrot

For all the turbulence, Simmons was clear about what is keeping the dressing room locked in: the prospect of a first appearance in the World Test Championship final.

"I think everyone is very focused on the Test match. I think there's that goal and that desire to play in the World Test Championship final and this is the first time we've had that opportunity to be there and I think everyone is going to be up and ready for the Test matches."

Bangladesh have three two-Test series remaining in the current cycle. The home series against West Indies opens the run, followed by an away assignment against South Africa, before the campaign concludes against England at home next year.

To reach the final, Bangladesh need to win at least four of their remaining six Tests — and draw one.