Bangladesh will play the first tournament of the year with the four-match T20 series against Zimbabwe which is considering as the preparation for the Asia Cup T20 and World T20. Tigers head coach Chandika Hathurusingha wants both the win and experiment in the series.
On Wednesday before the practice at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium Hathurusingha said, "We are playing international cricket. Though we have a plan to build the best combination for this format, we have to play to win. Besides, we will focus on the individual performance. Overall this series is very important for us."
"If I say about the combination, we will try to do something different in this series. We will play for win. But we will also do experiment for the proper combination," he added.
Bangladesh have well combination for one-day cricket but they failed to convert it in T20. Coach said players need to understand both the game plan and combination of the T20.
He said, "In one-day cricket we could form our combination. But we could not do it in T20. We have to understand the game plan along with the combination. This is challenging for us, especially in batting. For that the batters need to understand and play their own role."
Abu Hider Rony and Nurul Hasan Sohan are the two new faces in the squad for the first two matches. Regarding the inclusion of the new players coach said, "They got chance in the team showing their talent. They performed well in the recently concluded BPL and also did well for the 'A' team in Zimbabwe and South Africa tour. Nurul got chance for his explosive batting and keeping. Besides, all are praising Nurul's keeping."
Shuvagata Hom got chance in the squad as a reward of playing better in the BPL for Comilla Victorians and Hathurusingha thinks he can be use for big shots.
He said, "His strike rate is good. In T20 you cannot think the number 7-8 will play 60 balls. If the others player of the team play well then he will get 10-15 balls to play. That's why we pick him. Besides, his bowling and fielding is good. We give him the opportunity in this series to prove his ability."
Mushfiq and Mahmudullah experienced players in the squad and have significant role to play. Hathurusingha thinks their batting positions are open as they are the senior players.
He said, "Their position is open. They are senior players. Experience is always evaluated. If notice you can see experience players do better in T20 cricket. We will find the best combination in this series. In Asia Cup we will come to know our best combination."