BANGLADESH CRICKET
Julian Wood has previously worked with the Chattogram Challengers in the BPL © BCB
Julian Wood, world renowned power-hitting coach, is all set to join Bangladesh set-up in August to help them improve their range of shots as they prepare for the forthcoming T20 Asia Cup, scheduled from September 9 in UAE.
Bangladesh’s national cricketers, who are enjoying a break after completing a hectic schedule, will start their preparation camp for the Asia Cup from August 6 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Wood, who is credited for transforming England’s white-ball side by introducing power-hitting methods, is expected to arrive before the start of the camp in August and will guide the players for three weeks.
“We are hoping that he will arrive before the start of camp scheduled ahead of the Asia Cup,” a top BCB official confirmed the development to Cricbuzz on Saturday.
Wood, who worked with Bangladeshi cricketers during the Bangladesh Premier League by guiding the Chattogram Challengers in the competition, echoed the same sentiment to this website.
“Yeah, I’m talking to Simmo (Phil Simmons). Basically, I’m there for three weeks in August. That’s what I’ve heard, but it’s not confirmed yet. But it’s more than likely. You obviously spoke to BCB,” said Wood.
“In August, yeah (will be reaching Dhaka) prior to the Asia Cup. Don’t know (after Asia Cup) as it depends on them (BCB) I suppose,” he said.
“I think the key for me is there’s a lot of talent there. They’ve always had talent. When it comes to white ball cricket, striking the ball is obviously a major part of the game now,” he said.
“It (my job) will be to give them information and the key thing is how to use their power, how to generate their power and use that power more efficiently,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to these three weeks because I’ve got history there. And they’ve talked about this for a while now,” he said.
“I reckon, they talked about this for the last three to four years. Nothing’s really happened, but it’s happening now, I’m happy,” he added.
Apart from appointing a power-hitting coach, a BCB official said that they are eyeing to appoint a sports psychologist to help the cricketers deal with the mental side of the game.
“We are hoping to bring a sports psychologist and along with them we are eyeing to include some local psychologist so that they can learn from him as well as help our cricketers with the language as it can be a barrier,” said the official.
It is understood David Scott, who earlier worked with High Performance Unit of Bangladesh, is expected to fill the post of sports psychologist.
Scott, who teaches and does research in the area of sport and exercise and psychology, has been a consultant with a large number of government departments and private companies, in addition to being a sport psychology consultant with a number of teams and organizations.
Meanwhile, a BCB official said that they are in talks with several international sides including Nepal and the Netherlands to play a bilateral series as preparation for this year’s Asia Cup, which is scheduled for September.
“India were supposed to come to Bangladesh. We were counting on that. We thought we would go to the Asia Cup after playing India at home. Since they are not coming at the moment, we are trying to get another country to come to Bangladesh. Other leading countries are busy with their schedules. We are trying beyond that. It could be Nepal or the Netherlands,” BCB cricket operation chairman Najmul Abedin told reporters on Saturday.
“If we don’t get foreign teams, from now on, we are thinking of playing a series with the next possible best team – it will be compulsory. That way, the national team will prepare well. More importantly, those who are close to the national team will also face good competition. But at the moment, our first priority is to bring in a foreign team,” he said.
© Cricbuzz
