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Bangladesh desperately look forward to do something much better in the series against Sri Lanka in February-March, reports BDNEWS.
"Against Sri Lanka on home soil, we are really looking forward to do something much better what we did in Colombo in 2005," said coach Dav Whatmore Sunday during the practice session in the first-day at Indoor Practices Facilities in Mirpur.
The preliminary camp of Bangladesh national team started Sunday at the indoor practice facilities of Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur with participating all 20 cricketers. However, Illness barred Khaled Mashud Pilot in joining the camp on the first day.
The team will have net practice on February 6 and 7 inside the newly rebuilt stadium for the first time before leaving for Bogra on February 13.
Whatmore termed upcoming home series against Sri Lanka is a very important one for Bangladesh, as the home side have to keep the next World Cup (WC) in mind and are still need to find out the final squad for the WC.
The Sri Lankan born Australian said, "We have had a lot of domestic cricket. Some could have done better and others have done pretty well but they have played cricket, they've played a lot of competitions and games leading up to Sri Lanka.... not playing international cricket has given us an opportunity to play a lot of domestic cricket."
When asked about the report that that Sri Lanka might rest Marvan Atapattu, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas for the Bangladesh series, Whatmore said, "On the paper it is a little bit weaker, there bowling would be a little inexperienced I would think. But that's their prerogative ........ we will play against any opposition given to us and we have no say in that."
Captain Habibul Bashar said the four and a half-month away from international cricket would not be a major problem, but to acclimatise the international cricket, as they had constantly played on rather than to remain inactive.
Bashar said, "We are not far away from victory. We have to perform both individually and as a team to derive a win."
He added that Sri Lanka could be a little bit weaker on paper without the stars likes Vaas and Murali, but that would not be an advantage for us and it depends on how we would take the opponents on the ground."
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appointed a local psychologist Dr. Salahuddin Kausar, an assistant professor of the BSMMU. He met the players and would be with them round the year.
About the psychologist, Bashar said, "That is very good for the team because there are individual needs of players beside team related problems."
Aftab Ahmed, however, gets no practice match before taking on Sri Lanka, as physio Paul Close thought that Aftab Ahmed would be improved through the camp.
Bangladesh will play three ODIs and two Test matches series against Sri Lanka, scheduled to arrive here February 17.
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