Bangladesh batting coach Mohammad Ashraful has identified the absence of practice matches as a primary factor behind the team's underwhelming performance during their recently concluded tour of Zimbabwe. While the squad managed to secure a victory in the three-match T20I series, they suffered defeats in the one-off Test and the three-match ODI series. Speaking to reporters at the airport upon the team's arrival on Wednesday, July 22, Ashraful expressed that the modern trend of starting tours immediately without adjustment matches is detrimental to the players' preparation.
Ashraful noted that even though the Test and ODI squads arrived in Zimbabwe early, they were denied the opportunity to play warm-up games, a luxury that was once standard practice. He remains convinced that had those matches taken place, the final results of the tour might have shifted in Bangladesh's favor. Despite the disappointment, the coach views the experience as a vital learning opportunity, particularly for the younger players like Tanzid Tamim, Towhid Hridoy, and Rishad, who were touring Zimbabwe for the first time. He specifically praised Tamim for his seamless adjustment, noting his four fifties across six white-ball matches, and lauded Yasir Rabbi for his performance in his comeback series.
Looking ahead, Ashraful believes the Zimbabwe tour will serve as a valuable precursor to the upcoming historic Test tour of Australia. The team is scheduled to travel to Australia 10 to 12 days early, where they will participate in a three-day practice match to help them acclimatize. The two-Test series, which is part of the World Test Championship, is set for Darwin from August 13-17 and Mackay from August 22-26. Ashraful remains optimistic that if the players stay fit, they will compete well against a full-strength Australian side.
Addressing concerns regarding recent results and future qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup, Ashraful urged for perspective. "If you notice we took the ODIs seriously, Mustafizur and the others were there, but they couldn't play due to injury; Mustafizur couldn't play from the second game," he explained. "See, we can lose one or two games in different conditions. After playing so well over the last seven months, there is nothing to be morally down about after losing one or two matches, I believe. Obviously, they have gained experience from playing in different conditions," said Ashraful. He added that the conditions experienced in Zimbabwe and the expected extra bounce in Australia will be instrumental in readying the squad for the 2027 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa.
"Previously there used to be practice games before the main matches, this option is no longer there.
"It will be tough in Australia, the positive is we will travel there early – 10-12 days early, we will have the opportunity to play a three-day practice match, hopefully if all our players are fit, we will be able to do well there," he said.
