Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons. -File Photo

DHAKA, Feb 10, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons rallied behind Najmul Hossain Shanto, saying that the national team captain possessed a strong mentally, which could give him the success in the Champions Trophy.

While most of the players of the Champions Trophy-bound squad were in good touch in BPL, Shanto failed to find a place regularly in the playing XI of champions Fortune Barishal.
"He (Shanto) was working very hard when he wasn't playing. We need a strong mental attitude from everyone in the team,” Simmons said here today. 

“I think (Shanto) possesses that strong mentality (which is key for the success), so I look forward to continue to work with him.”

Barishal Captain Tamim Iqbal said that Shanto was not in the playing XI due to combination, not for his performance. But Shanto scored just 56 runs in five matches he played for Barishal. Amongst 56, 41 runs came in a match, meaning Shanto could score just 15 runs in the rest of the four matches.

“It's now 50 over matches being played and the skipper didn't play much (in BPL which is T20 cricket).  So I think he will be okay for the tournament.
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Simmons also said that Liton Das, who failed to make the cut in the Champions Trophy squad due to poor form, will be missed in the tournament.

Liton scored 368 runs in 11 matches of BPL, including a record-breaking century but his recent performance in ODI cricket is not pleasing one. He couldn’t reach double digits in his last seven ODI innings.

 But Simmon said Liton is working hard to get back sooner than later. "Obviously he (Liton) was disappointed with not being selected but I think he has taken it on the chin,” Simmon said.
“He was working on his batting during the BPL. We saw him come back into a bit of form.”
He added:  “You will miss a player like him, but at the same time, we all know that he has accepted the fact that he wasn't scoring runs when the team was being selected. He is working very hard to get back.”