If we can challenge Pakistan, we are ready for the World Cup – New Zealand batting coach

Jamie Siddons, the Bangladesh batting coach, feels that if they can challenge Pakistan and New Zealand in the upcoming T20I tri-series then they will believe themselves to be prepared for the T20 World Cup.

Jamie Siddons, the Bangladesh batting coach, feels that if they can challenge Pakistan and New Zealand in the upcoming T20I tri-series then they will believe themselves to be prepared for the T20 World Cup.

A 2-0 series win against the UAE recently came as some reprieve for Bangladesh who has been very less than impressive in Twenty20 Internationals in the recent past.

Bangladesh had their first training session in New Zealand’s Lincoln, Christchurch on Tuesday (October 4) to start their preparation for the tri-series, which will be their last competitive cricket before the mega event scheduled in Australia from mid-October.

“We can’t ask for any better (preparation-wise ahead of the T20 World Cup) – finalist last World Cup [New Zealand] and Pakistan is obviously on the up. And if we can challenge them, we are getting ready for the World Cup,”

Siddons told reporters on Tuesday.

Siddons said the conditions in New Zealand would be very like to Australia, which is a good thing for Bangladesh ahead of the tournament. 

“We just came from Dubai and played a couple of games against UAE. Had a week practicing there and the facilities were fantastic (in UAE)

“We came out of 40 degrees and so it’s nice to be in some cool weather, at least for the Aussie guys in the group, but conditions are very similar looking at the wicket over there and the indoor center is nice. “Hagley (Oval) would play a lot like Australia, I think early season Australia is pretty similar to what it is here,”

he said.

“The boys are coming along and we have a pretty young team. Some of the senior players have retired or not on this tour and the young team was excited, but they have got a bit of learning to do. We would be looking forward to seeing two pretty strong teams here,”

said Siddons.

“People like Sabbir and [Mehidy Hasan] Miraz opening the innings is very different to Tamim and Litton [Das]. Litton is still there at number three or four so we still got a few senior players over there but the youth is very exuberant and energetic and that’s what we want to see and bring on the table,”

he added.

Bangladesh will start its tri-nation series campaign against Pakistan on October 7 before they take on New Zealand on October 9. 

Bangladesh will then face the same opponents on October 12 and Pakistan on the following day in their remaining matches of the double-league format tournament. 

The Top two teams from the league will progress to the final which will be held on October 14. Hagley Oval in Christchurch will have all the matches.