Phil Simmons, the head coach of Bangladesh national cricket team, doesn鈥檛 want to look ahead to a clean sweep over Zimbabwe; instead concentrate on the first Test, which begins on April 20 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Despite losing the last five Tests at home, expectations are high when the opposition is Zimbabwe, who are considered relatively weaker than Bangladesh in recent times.
Bangladesh won the last three Tests against the Zimbabwean side both at home and away. They also named almost a full-strength squad for the first Test.
But Simmons wants to stay in the present and focus solely on the Sylhet Test as the Tigers are set to return to the longer version of the game after four months.
鈥業 don鈥檛 know about a whitewash,鈥� Simmons told the reporters on Friday in Sylhet when he was asked about clean sweeping their counterpart.
鈥榃e take one step at a time. First, we have to win the opening Test, and then we can talk about winning the series. I can鈥檛 look ahead to Chattogram. Right now, my focus is firmly on Sylhet,鈥� Simmons added.
However, Simmons, who turned 62 on Friday, mentioned that a win would be the perfect gift for his birthday.
He said, 鈥業鈥檓 at the stage where I don鈥檛 want birthday gifts anymore. A win in the first Test would be the perfect present.鈥�
There were speculations regarding Tigers鈥� preparation as they last played in the format in November-December last year. However, the Test side held a week-long camp in Sylhet, and Simmons was happy with the preparation.
鈥楶reparation has been good. The facilities here are fantastic鈥攊t鈥檚 like a dream. Everything鈥檚 close by, and we鈥檝e managed to get a lot done in a short period,鈥� he added.
About the wicket, Simmons said that he鈥檇 want a sporting wicket rather than focusing on something that could be labelled as spin-friendly.
He said, 鈥極ur plan is to prepare a proper Test wicket. We want to play a certain brand of cricket and move the team in that direction. So, there鈥檚 no discussion about preparing a spin or seam track. The surface looks hard and really nice.鈥�
But Simmons will have to look on to his opening pair, which wasn鈥檛 finalised yet. Bangladesh have Mahmudul Hasan, Shadman Islam, and Zakir Hasan as the recognised opening batters in the squad.
Simmons said, 鈥極ver the past four days, they鈥檝e looked sharper and tighter. Hopefully, they can take that confidence into the Test match.鈥�
There is also one thing that Simmons didn鈥檛 confirm: who would take the wicketkeeping gloves.
The regular wicketkeeper Liton Das was granted the NOC to play in the PSL; however, he was forced to return to the country with an injury without playing a match.
Bangladesh will have the option of giving the responsibility to either Jaker Ali or Mahidul Islam. Simmons, however, confirmed that the veteran Mushfiqur Rahim wouldn鈥檛 take the keeping gloves.
He said, 鈥榃e are still in the process of finalising that. Jaker Ali and Mahidul Ankon are both in the mix. But I can assure you, Mushy won鈥檛 be keeping.鈥�