Had everything gone according to plan, this would have been one of Phil Simmons’ busiest periods. He would have travelled with the Bangladesh team to the World Cup venue and begun final preparations ahead of the global tournament.
Instead, with Bangladesh no longer taking part in the event, the head coach is heading back to his family on an unexpected break -- one he admits has come with deep disappointment.
Simmons arrived in Dhaka towards the end of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) with the intention of preparing the side for the World Cup. However, upon arrival, he found uncertainty surrounding Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament. That uncertainty was visible on his face as well. During the BPL playoffs, he was often seen pacing near the Mirpur press box, speaking of his concerns with a faint, uneasy smile.
There is no uncertainty now. Bangladesh’s absence from the World Cup has been confirmed. With no matches scheduled, there is naturally no immediate work. Carrying a sense of sadness, Simmons is returning home to spend time with his family.
“I am leaving today,” the coach told The Daily Star. “Our next series is in March, so we will have to prepare again then. Hopefully, I will return at that time.”
It is understood that other members of the national team’s coaching staff have also been granted unexpected leave.
While returning home to family is usually a pleasant prospect, this is not the kind of break anyone wishes for. The Bangladesh head coach spoke candidly about how painful it has been to miss out on the World Cup.
“Missing the World Cup is extremely disappointing,” he said.
Since the end of the BPL, the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur has remained eerily quiet. With no immediate objective ahead, players have dispersed for personal breaks, and there is currently no structured training programme in place.
As a result of missing the T20 World Cup, the Bangladesh team will remain completely inactive until mid-March. Their next assignment is a home series against Pakistan under the Future Tours Programme (FTP). The two sides are scheduled to play a three-match ODI series on March 12, 14 and 16.
The remainder of the series -- the Test matches -- will be held in May. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had earlier proposed splitting the tour into two phases due to the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Uncertainty also continues to loom over domestic cricket during this lull in international action. Calls for boycotts by several First and Second Division clubs have placed the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) under threat. Ongoing disputes between the Bangladesh Cricket Board and club officials have made the organisation of the country’s only List A tournament increasingly difficult.
That uncertainty prompted national captain Najmul Hossain Shanto to express his frustration after winning the BPL, admitting that the players themselves do not know when they will next take the field.
