We are grateful to be playing against quality BBL sides: Chandika Haturusingha

The Sydney-based teams in the Big Bash League – the Sydney Sixers and the Sydney Thunder will face-off against a Bangladesh Board XI prior to the start of the upcoming edition of the Big Bash League. In recent times, Bangladesh cricket has gone through a well-documented renaissance, something that has seen a plethora of players come through the ranks.

Chandika Haturusingha, the incumbent coach of the Bangladesh cricket team and who has also coached the New South Wales team in the recent past in the Sheffield Shield has opened up about the exposure his players would get by playing in the overseas conditions. Haturusingha has also coached the Sydney Thunder in the early days of the BBL.

“We’ll get a lot out of it, playing in different conditions against teams in Australia,” Hathurusingha said. “With the Thunder, I thought it was a good way to see how these guys measured up against the champions as it’ll give us a lot of confidence if we do well.

Haturusingha also believes that the upcoming matches against these sides will go on to help the Bangladeshi side adapt to the conditions prior to their tour of New Zealand later next month. “And playing a BBL team like Sixers gives Bangladesh players greater exposure and confidence. North Sydney Oval is a great place to play cricket for players and for spectators to watch cricket.

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However, before this, the Bangladesh side will make a quick stop at Blacktown International Sports Park (BISP) during their stay and Hathurusingha said that would also help them acclimatize to similar conditions in New Zealand. “We are grateful for the opportunity.”

“The main purpose of having this camp in Sydney on our way to New Zealand is getting used to conditions closer to what we’re expecting in New Zealand, which we can’t create back in Bangladesh,” Hathurusingha said.

“We were impressed with the facility at BISP provided to us during the World Cup in 2015 and that is the reason we choose BISP as well.”

Mike Hussey, the coach of the Sydney Sixers was also pleased with the same. “Our focus ahead of BBL 06 has been to play competitive games against high-quality opposition,” Hussey said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how we match up against some very exciting international stars. Getting to play at Spotless Stadium will provide valuable practice four days ahead of the season.”

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