Hathurusingha Knows the Australian Team, Planning Accordingly

After clearing the group stage, Bangladesh is set to face Australia in their first match of the Super 8 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The match against the title contenders Australia is expected to be particularly challenging for Bangladesh.

Ahead of the match against Australia, Bangladesh's head coach Chandika Hathurusingha spoke to the media on Thursday. Before his second tenure as the head coach of Bangladesh, he was associated with New South Wales, an Australian domestic team. Thus, Hathurusingha is well-acquainted with the Aussie stars.

Considering his familiarity with the Australian players and the pitch conditions, Hathurusingha remarked, "I know many of them. They are very good players and are confident in their gameplay. On the given day, the conditions will be very important for this match. Our focus is on leveraging those conditions and taking advantage of them."

Having won three matches in the group stage, Bangladesh secured their place in the Super 8. However, the performance of the batters has been a point of criticism. Despite this, Hathurusingha wants everyone to enjoy the game and fulfill their roles within the team. Even though he grants the players freedom, the head coach does not allow them to do anything they wish on the field.

Hathurusingha stated, "We want the players to enjoy the game. We want them to enjoy it on the field, no matter how big the match is. However, this does not mean they have the license to do anything they want on the field. Everyone has a specific role in the team, and they have the freedom to fulfill it. This applies to playing for the country as well as for the club. So, enjoying the game is always our goal, along with performing their roles."

When asked if the victory over Australia by 20 runs in a Test match in Mirpur in 2017 would play a role in securing another win against the Aussies in the Super 8, Hathurusingha responded,

"That team was much more experienced. They knew their roles. We had many experienced batters in the team. The pitch and conditions were in our favor. We also had a great plan. We need to be bold in planning and decision-making. We've talked about these things. We need to take some bold decisions."