New Bangladesh national team coach Richard Pybus (L) keeps a watchful eye on Junaed Siddique during his first training session with the Tigers at the Mirpur indoor stadium on Sunday. — New Age photo

Bangladesh national team’s new head coach Richard Pybus made his intention clear as he got down to business with the available national players at the Mirpur indoor on Sunday, just a day after his arrival in Dhaka.
Pybus, 47, who joined the national cricket team on a two-year contract recently replacing Australian Stuart Law, had a busy morning  with the four cricketers of the 15-member squad that will tour Zimbabwe on June 12 to play an unofficial  tri-nation Twenty20 tournament, also involving the hosts and South Africa.
The four players – Mashrafee bin Murtaza, Junaed Siddique, Nazmul Hossain, Abdur Razzak – along with pace bowler Shafiul Islam were present on the first day of the Tigers’ practice session under the new coach, which was followed by some net practice and short catching.
The Englishman spent most of the time seeing his charges in the nets and discussing about their strengths and weaknesses with bowling coach Shane Jurgensen though he hardly came up with any suggestion for the players.
The former national coach of Pakistan also instructed national team’s computer analyst Nasir Ahmed to provide him with the detailed data on individual player’s performance in the Twenty20 version of the game.
The data consist of wagon wheel that indicates where the batsmen have scored runs while he also wanted to know about the manner they have got out in order to make his plans for individual cricketers.
Pybus emphasized on building trust between him and the players as he felt it was the most important task for him ahead of the hectic season of the national cricketers.
After the tri-nation in Zimbabwe the national team will go to Europe where they will play five Twenty20 matches – three against Ireland and two against the Netherlands.
After that they are scheduled to participate in a four-nation T20 tournament in August in Trinidad and Tobago – organised to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence – where they will face Jamaica, Afghanistan and the hosts.
The national team will leave for Sri Lanka to participate in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in September.
‘I think building trust is the most important thing. I have to look at the players and get to know them,’ Pybus told reporters.
‘I think the most important part of my job is trust, the players and I have to trust each other,’ Pybus told reporters on Sunday.
‘Even before we get into the cricket, I have to understand every player and what he’s all about and gain his trust. It is very important that we can trust each other and that will help us work well,’ said Pybus.
After the practice session Pybus went to meet the national selectors at their office and discussed several issues regarding the national team.
Pybus, who last coached the Pakistan national team in 2003, wanted to know about the current national players as well as the players in the pipeline.
‘We had a long discussion covering several issues. It was good as he shared his views with us and we shared ours,’ Akram Khan, chief selector of the national team, said.
‘Pybus said that we are like a family and he wanted the bond to grow stronger with the passing time,’ said Akram.
Habibul Bashar mentioned that unlike the other coaches, Pybus seemed to have already done some home work.
Meanwhile, former skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza and opener Junaed Siddique opined that it was too early to say anything about their new head coach.
‘I think it’s too early to say anything about the coach. But the players must know that they are the ones who will have to play and earn the results,’ said Mashrafee.
‘It’s not right to blame the coach if we cannot perform, so we must take the responsibility if we perform badly and I am sure we all know that as we are all grown-up professionals.’
Junaed added that it was too early to comment on someone but hinted that changing a player’s individual style can sometimes may not be effective.
It is often said that with each new coach a new method comes in and it sometimes does not produce the desired results.
‘Today I am the only one who batted among the batsmen as others are busy with the Dhaka Premier League. After working with a coach for a long time we can understand what is going on in his mind,’ said Junaed.
‘Naturally every batsman has his own style and wants to continue with that. As he has not instructed us regarding this aspect I cannot say anything,’ said Junaed.
Pybus also seemed to have the same notion like his player as he said for him ultimately the best option is something that suits each individual player.
‘Every individual has a different style. Someone can be orthodox and even then can be successful, so you never know which the best option for him,’ said Pybus.
The coach is expected to