Bangladesh national team coach Shane Jurgensen said that he is not worried about the 2015 World Cup venues nor the opponents and the Australian is hoping to play the second round of the elite tournament as he went to watch the Bangladesh U-23 side practice at the Mirpur Sahara-BCB national academy ground yesterday.
"Australia and New Zealand, both the host countries are in the same group, along with Sri Lanka, England and two associate countries. We have beaten Sri Lanka and all the other countries in the past and I think it's possible to beat them in the World Cup," said Jurgensen.
The Tiger's coach pointed out Bangladesh had comprehensively defeated New Zealand and was confident that the team could prosper at the World Cup. "In the ODI's anything is possible. We have beaten New Zealand at our home 4-0 in the one day series and I think on our day, we can beat any team in the world either - whether it's in our home or abroad."
Jurgensen added that he did not think the pitches would be a problem. "I think all the wickets will not behave abnormally for us. Only the Gabba wicket is pacer friendly but there will be turn in the other venues where the spinners will come in to play." Bangladesh will play their second match against Australia at the Gabba on February 21 and the other venues for the Tigers are Canberra, Melbourne, Nelson, Adelaide and Hamilton.
Though the coach was hopeful that his team could make it to the quarter-final of the tournament, he had reservations about the lack of experience his team had of playing in the conditions. The last time Bangladesh toured Australia was in 2008 and the last tour to New Zealand was in 2010.
"Our main challenge will be adopting the condition but we have some secret plan which I am not going to tell right now. Tamim played in New Zealand at the domestic T20 tournament in New Zealand last season and I hope Tamim along with Shakib may play there in the next season" said Jurgensen.
One of Jurgensen's concerns was a reliable opening partner for Tamim. "We are thinking about this position and I think it will be a great opportunity for Anamul and Jahurul. Jahurul has made some good starts," he said.
The coach felt that not playing more matches in the longer format had contributed to batsmen's inability to capitalize on starts. "We need to play more three-four day matches and I think last year's Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) was a good initiative.
"The fast bowlers need to take more responsibility but there are some injury concerns at the moment. We need cure them and create competition among them. Still we have time and I hope we can prepare ourselves properly."
Meanwhile, the fitness report for the players who attended the recent fitness camp came back yesterday and chief selector Akram Khan said that six players were found to be below the required standard. Sources said that the players concerned are Mashrafe Mortaza, Shamsur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman, Sohag Gazi, Elias Sunny and Shahriar Nafees.
