Domingo pleads for positivity towards Tigers

The confidence after the successful tour in Zimbabwe was clearly emitting in the words of the Bangladesh team's head coach Russell Domingo during his interaction with the media as both Bangladesh and visitors Australia began their training ahead of the upcoming five-match T20I series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

However, ever since his appointment as the Tigers head coach back in August 2019, Domingo's confidence has always been the same before every series, when it comes to his interaction with the media

Despite the high confidence from Domingo towards his game plan, it didn't usually reflect a great deal when it came to the execution on the field and more importantly in the results.

Although it will be interesting to see whether and how the confidence boost obtained from recent success will manifest in the upcoming series against the Aussies. If the Tigers can replicate as per Domingo's plans, it will certainly help Bangladesh cricket to go further as a team.

"Trying to find out our best combination by playing against Australia will give us that opportunity. There are two ways to look at it. Trying to find out our best combination and keep developing some of the younger players. Secondly, Bangladesh doesn't play Australia too often so this is a big series for us and we are really determined to do well," said Domingo to the media during a virtual press conference yesterday.

With the series being likely to become a stern test for the South African as the Tigers will be up against the mighty Aussies, Domingo even pleaded to the media to be more positive towards the Tigers in a seemingly frustrated manner.

"It's very frustrating to continuously read about the negative articles about Bangladesh cricket team and why you guys say we are not a very good T20 team is beyond me. I think we have got wonderful players and I am sure there is room for improvement but I think we have got the ingredients to be a good T20 team. I know we don't have the physical attributes like the West Indies but we have got some skilled batsmen on our side.

"I am pleading to the media for a bit more positivity towards the team because the existing negativity is draining sometimes. I disagree with you totally as I don't think we are a bad T20 team at all. If our wonderful T20 players are backed and supported with positive feedback, they can surely be a force to be reckoned with. We know we have to improve but that's obvious as this is always a process. Besides, we haven't played many T20s over the last year," he said.

The Tigers head coach also expressed his frustration over the strict quarantine protocol set by Australia which forced Mushfiqur Rahim to eventually miss the series. However, Domingo added that it presents a great opportunity for the fringe cricketers to step up on big occasions.

He also downplayed engaging in any psychological warfare against the Aussies but Domingo did mention that there will be some added pressure on the Australian players who will play as the replacements of some of the key players, the likes of -- Steve Smith, David Warner, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell -- and therefore, Bangladesh could look to utilise that in their favour.