Tigers begin practice for Champions Trophy

Dhaka, 8 Feb -The Bangladesh national cricket team began their official training for the upcoming Champions Trophy, just a day after the conclusion of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Almost all players gathered at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium and 
practiced under the supervision of head coach Phil Simmons.

Some players, however, started their practice under the guidance of the 
assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin even before the official training starts. 
Basically the players, whose teams were not the part of the BPL playoffs, 
started training beforehand. 

Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto was also amongst the players who started 
practice early. Even though Shanto's franchise Fortune Barishal played the 
final and eventually became Champions, the Bangladesh skipper didn't get 
chance into the squad due to the team combination, said Barishal captain 
Tamim Iqbal.

"It is very unfortunate. We haven't been able to give him as many 
opportunities as he deserves. Our team combination has made it difficult to 
fit him in," Tamim said.

"Even in the early matches, we struggled to find the right balance. I have 
tried to give him chances, but his exclusion is not due to performance." 

Almost all players, who are in the Champions Trophy squad, fared well in this 
BPL that gave Bangladesh a glimmer of hope to do well in the tournament.

Last time when the Champions Trophy was held in 2017 in England, Bangladesh 
moved to the semifinal. This was their best result in ICC tournament till 
date.

Bangladesh which are drawn in Group A along with India, Pakistan and New 
Zealand may leave the country on February 13.

They will begin the tournament by taking on India in Dubai on February 20. 
Thereafter the Tigers will face off New Zealand and hosts Pakistan on 
February 24 and 27. Both of the matches will be held in Rawalpindi.