Sports Desk:

Bangladesh introduced match-scenario training sessions on Monday to sharpen both batters and bowlers ahead of the second ODI against the West Indies in Mirpur, aiming to replicate game-day intensity and tactical awareness during practice.

At the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, players trained under a modified setup, with head coach Phil Simmons and batting consultant Mohammad Salahuddin closely monitoring proceedings as spinners bowled on the center pitches instead of the nets.

Explaining the new approach, spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed said the objective was to make practice mirror actual match conditions.

“We wanted to bring the net practice very close to the match environment,” Mushtaq told reporters. “It’s important for the batsmen to develop that muscle memory — to feel like, ‘We’re playing tomorrow, these are the conditions, this is how I’ll take singles.’ The goal was to make them think and react as if they’re in a real game.”

He added that Simmons and Salahuddin were particularly focused on improving Bangladesh’s strike rotation in the middle overs, an area that has been a recurring challenge in recent ODIs.

“Phil and Salahuddin were guiding the batsmen on how to take singles in the middle overs,” said the former Pakistan leg-spinner. “The spinners also set field positions, making it feel very close to an actual match situation.”