Bangladesh can win the Champions Trophy, believes Simmons
Speaking ahead of the third day of their training camp, Simmons expressed confidence in his squad’s ability to reach the final and even lift the trophy.
Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons firmly believes his team has the potential to win the ICC Champions Trophy, despite a disappointing 2023 World Cup campaign.
The team secured qualification by defeating Sri Lanka in the controversial 'Timed Out' match, and now Simmons is optimistic about their chances in the upcoming tournament.
Following their best-ever Champions Trophy performance in 2017, where they reached the semi-finals under Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Bangladesh now aims to go further.
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Speaking ahead of the third day of their training camp, Simmons expressed confidence in his squad's ability to reach the final and even lift the trophy.
"If I didn't believe it, I wouldn't be here. I think you go into a tournament with the best possible preparation and aim to play your best cricket on the day. That's how I see it, and that's how I try to get the team to play every time," Simmons stated.
His confidence is backed by Bangladesh's recent tour of the West Indies, where despite a 3-0 ODI series loss, they secured a 3-0 T20I series win and a Test victory. Simmons highlighted their progress, saying, "Considering our performance in the West Indies, I would say we have made significant strides. Although I acknowledge that certain aspects of the tour did not go well for us, I believe that if we play to our potential, we have a very good chance."
However, Simmons admits that the team's preparation has not been ideal. With players coming off a 40-day Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season, they have had to quickly transition back to 50-over cricket. When asked about the impact of this, he conceded, "I agree with you—it is not the best preparation."
Nevertheless, he remains confident that the team can adapt, stating, "In two days of training, there has been no discussion about the BPL. The players have focused on batting for longer periods and bowling in the right areas for the one-day format. I don't think the mental fatigue from the BPL will have any impact on them."
With optimism from their head coach and a determined squad, Bangladesh now gears up for the Champions Trophy, hoping to turn belief into reality.
