BCB wants ‘new brand of team’ in T20Is

After playing T20 for almost 16 years, Bangladesh are still not in a vulnerable position in the shortest format of cricket. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has several times talked about various activities to turn around the form in this format.

Bringing Shakib Al Hasan back to the captaincy role ahead of the Asia Cup was part of that. In recent times, experienced cricketers like Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim have announced retirement from T20 cricket. As a result, the number of youngsters in the squad is gradually increasing. BCB wants to see a new version of the team in this era of T20.

BCB has also removed head coach Russell Domingo along with changing the captain to improve in T20. The board has appointed Indian coach Sridharan Sriram as a consultant for this format. BCB wants to build a 'new brand of team' in T20.

Jalal Yunus, chairman of BCB's cricket management department, said, "There are a lot of justifications going on until the T20 World Cup. Change is coming now. The 'new brand of team' will be seen in the future. That is what is being tried. We have a new coach, he will stay until the World Cup. His thinking is like that, he wants to present the new brand of team in Bangladesh. We want to start the journey from here again, bringing new players. Its results can be good or bad. But we have to continue in this direction."

Besides, this board director is also worried about the future of the ODI version. So Bangladesh now want to give more importance to T20. Jalal Yunus added, “T20 will survive. T20 will be very competitive and popular tournament in world cricket. Many have now started saying that even if there are no ODIs, it can be reduced to 40 overs. So it appears that the value of Test and T20 is more. For that, we have to build a new brand team with emphasis on T20. It is very difficult to say right now whether we will do well or badly in the World Cup. But as a new team will be playing, it’s very challenging."

Sridharan hints at changes 

Just a few days before the start of the Asia Cup, Indian coach Sridharan Sriram was appointed as the consultant for the Bangladesh T20 team. Sriram's journey with the Tigers began with defeats against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup.

However, he wants to prepare the team before the tri-nation tournament in New Zealand and the T20 World Cup. As a result, there may be several changes in the Bangladesh squad. Sriram wants to witness the performance of cricketers who are being considered for the national team in practice.

On Monday (September 5), national team selector Abdur Razzak said, "Since he (Sriram) has come for the T20 and he wants to see the players’ performances. He actually wants to see how the players are at the moment. It actually varies from person to person. He thinks it's necessary to see, so we don't really have any objection."

The practice camp is scheduled to start in Mirpur from September 12 under Sriram. Regarding the participation of cricketers in the camp, Razzak added, "All the players who are close to the national team or playing will be present in the practice."

There may be several changes in the national team on Sriram's advice. In that case, the final decision will be taken on the basis of discussions between the team management and the selection panel. Razzak further said, "Actually, I will talk to him (Sriram) again. Then maybe one or two cricketers have to be brought into the team or two cricketers may have to be left out. So let's see what happens."