New FTP poses 'huge challenge'
While it came as good news that Bangladesh will be playing a significant number of matches in the new Future Tours Programme (FTP) announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the 2023-27 period, it will also be a huge challenge for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to prepare accordingly.
According to the next FTP, all 12 Test teams will take part in 777 international games in the span of four years, where Bangladesh are set to play more than 34 Tests, 57 ODIs and 57 T20Is, apart from the global events during this period.
For the first time since 2003, the Tigers will travel to Australia for a bilateral series, in which they will partake in a two-match Test series, slated for 2027. Bangladesh will feature in 150 international bilateral matches -- the most by a team during the new cycle, starting from May, 2023. During this period, the Tigers will play 59 ODIs, which is the most by any team in the new FTP.
With a busy and challenging schedule in the coming years, does the Bangladesh think-tank have enough resources, when it comes to chalk out a long-term plan, for the coming days?
Bangladesh's pipeline has always remained an area of concern for the team management over the years where the selectors had to face hard times in forming a squad before every series.
The lack of competitiveness within the team had forced the selectors to return to players who were dropped from the national side due to dismal performances. It is not that those players have performed exceptionally elsewhere to merit a call-up but simply due to a lack of competition, the selectors were forced to walk backwards.
"Obviously it's a positive that we will be playing a significant number of matches in the new FTP, but the fact is that it is also going to be a huge challenge for us," chairman of the BCB's cricket operations committee, Jalal Yunus, told The Daily Star yesterday.
"Many may feel the numbers are quite high to be honest, but at the same time it also prompts us to prepare a pool of cricketers for the upcoming busy schedule.
"Since we will be playing a lot of matches across all formats, our plan is to prepare players for specific formats. It will help us to get more specialist players for the various formats and think for a long-term goal," Yunus continued.
"We really want to become a good Test unit and at the same time, we want our T20I performances to improve as well. We have the Bangladesh Tigers, where the players outside the national team are getting a platform to improve their skills. And at the same time, we want to conduct skill training camps throughout the year."
Injury is also another big concern for the Bangladesh team management and according to Yunus, the board is planning to form an injury-management unit that will work throughout the year to assist players' rehabilitation.
"We have a plan to create an injury management unit for the national team. And since we are going to have a busy schedule, there are chances of more injuries. We would like to have a specialist physio from abroad who will work in Bangladesh throughout the year and help manage the injuries quickly, according to the demand of the team management." Yunus concluded.
Comments