Bangladesh Cricket Board XI vs Sydney Thunder
T20 Match on Dec 16 at Spotless Stadium
Match scheduled to start at 07:oo pm local time (08:00 GMT | 01:00 pm PST| 01:30 pm IST | 02:00 pm BST)
Sydney Thunder to lock horns with Bangladesh in the lead up to BBL|06.
Defending champion Sydney Thunder will tackle a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI as part of their preparation for this summer’s KFC Twenty20 Big Bash League.
Big Bash League Champions Set For Bangladesh Challenge.
Sydney Thunder will meet the BCB XI December 16 at Spotless Stadium.
This game will act as a warm-up match for Bangladesh ahead of their month-long tour of New Zealand, which will comprise five one-day internationals and two Test matches.
Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha, who previously coached New South Wales and the Thunder, said competing against some of Australia’s best short-form players would be a valuable opportunity for his group.
“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.
“We are grateful for the opportunity.”
Bangladesh will be based at Blacktown International Sports Park (BISP) during their stay and Hathurusingha said that would also help them acclimatise to similar conditions in New Zealand.
The Tigers kick off their NZ tour with an ODI in Christchurch on December 26.
They will be looking to build on recent good performances after pushing England all the way in a 22-run loss in the first Test in Chittagong and a very comprehensive victory in the second Test.
Bangladesh is ninth in the ICC Test rankings and seventh in the ODI rankings.
“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.”
Former Sydney Thunder captain and director of cricket Michael Hussey said the practice game would provide perfect preparation.
“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.”
This is Thunder’s final practice match before the start of the KFC T20 Big Bash League.
The fixture will see Sydney Thunder reunited with former coach Chandika Hathurusingha, now the Head Coach of Bangladesh as they prepare for their tour of New Zealand.
“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,” said Hathurusingha.
“We’ll get a lot out of it, playing in different conditions against a team in Australia.”
Despite leaving the Club after BBL03 to take up a position with the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Hathurusingha has continued to follow the fortunes of his former employers.
“I follow the club very closely,” said Hathurusingha.
“They’ve improved every year and from the culture they’ve built you could see they were going in the right direction.
“Bangladesh has been playing good cricket, especially in fifty over cricket,” said Hathurusingha.
“In T20 cricket we still have a little way to go, but we have some exciting cricketers and getting to play the top side in the world gives you a good idea of where you’re at.”
Former Sydney Thunder Captain and current Direct of Cricket Michael Hussey, believes this final practice game ahead of the season will provide perfect preparation.
“Our focus ahead of BBL06 has been to play competitive games against high quality opposition,” said Sydney Thunder Director of Cricket Michael Hussey.
“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.”
Sydney Thunder General Manager Nick Cummins believes the game will not only provide vital practice ahead of the season, but will be widely supported by the local community.
”I was very excited when Chandika and the BCB approached us about the possibility of this practice match and I’m delighted it has come together.
“Chandika laid the foundations for Thunder’s BBL05 success and is a popular figure amongst the players.”
“We’ve built terrific support for the Thunder amongst the Bangladesh community in Sydney and I imagine that their loyalties will be severely tested in this match. I’m sure they will come out in force and create a great atmosphere.”
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Bangladesh Cricket Board XI Squad
Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Mosaddek Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Shuvagata Hom, Mehedi Hasan Maruf, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Taijul Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Subashis Roy, Rubel Hossain, Ebadat Hossain, Tanveer Haider
Sydney Thunder Squad
Pat Cummins, Aiden Blizzard, Jake Doran, Usman Khawaja, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Gurinder Sandhu, Shane Watson, Andre Russell, Clint McKay, Alister McDermott, Fawad Ahmed, Chris Green