Preparation Battle: Red vs Green

Ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken a different route. Despite dominating at home, the Tigers have consistently failed to carry that momentum into multinational tournaments. The reason, many argue, lies in Mirpur’s tailor-made pitches, which don’t reflect real international challenges.This time, BCB has shifted its preparation camp to Sylhet. While the immediate opponent is the Netherlands, the bigger target remains the Asia Cup. To sharpen their skills, Bangladesh players are undergoing a conditioning camp in Sylhet, which included a practice match on Tuesday evening at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Players were split into Red and Green teams.

Leading the Red team was Bangladesh’s regular T20I captain Litton Das, while the Green team was captained by Zakir Ali Anik, joined by Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, and Towhid Hridoy.

Batting first, the Green team lit up the stage with an impressive show. Soumya Sarkar led from the front with a classy 41, decorated with eye-catching strokes. HP prospect Mahfijul Islam Robin impressed with a team-high 44. Captain Anik also showcased his “power-hitting” skills learned under coach Julian Wood. He struck two massive sixes off Tanjim Hasan Sakib and Khaled Ahmed, finishing unbeaten on 35 from just 3 sixes. With their combined efforts, the Greens posted 203 runs.

For the Red team, Khaled Ahmed picked up 3 wickets, while Mustafizur Rahman and Towhid Hridoy chipped in with one each.

In reply, the Red team faltered early. Only skipper Litton and Towhid Hridoy showed resistance. After Litton fell to Shoriful Islam, the Reds’ hopes rested solely on Hridoy’s bat. He did not disappoint—smashing 56 off just 27 balls, hitting 6 sixes and 3 fours. However, his dismissal off Saifuddin ended any chance of a comeback. The Reds eventually folded for 135 runs, falling short by 68 runs.

Shoriful Islam and Mohammad Saifuddin starred with the ball for the Greens, bagging 3 wickets each. Taskin Ahmed took 2, while Nasum Ahmed added 1 to wrap up the Reds.

The Sylhet practice match wasn’t merely about winning or losing—it was about adapting to tougher conditions and mental preparation. Victories on Mirpur’s comfortable pitches may boost confidence but don’t prepare players for international challenges. This new approach by BCB—tough training, difficult conditions, and internal competition—aims to break that cycle.

The Green team’s fiery performance sends a strong message ahead of the Netherlands series and the Asia Cup: Bangladesh are preparing the hard way, and they are ready.