‘Don’t want to get too caught up in qualification mathematics,’ says Simmons

Bangladesh are returning to the One Day International format after a gap of four months, with direct qualification for the next ICC Men's Cricket World Cup looming as a key objective.

However, Tigers' head coach Phil Simmons insisted that the team’s primary focus is not on complicated qualification calculations but on improving the overall standard of their ODI cricket.

The men in red and green have lost four of their last five ODI series, and Simmons emphasised the importance of performing closer to the level that the current group of players is capable of producing.

“The ultimate aim is to improve our standard in ODI cricket rather than getting too caught up in qualification mathematics. The team may not currently have the same level of experience that was present when Bangladesh once reached the top of the ODI rankings, but our focus is on ensuring that the present group plays to the best of its ability,” he said.

“The work we are doing now is aimed at helping the team climb up the rankings table. Our ambition is not only to remain within the top eight to secure automatic qualification, but also to keep moving upward by consistently playing better cricket,” he added.

In next year’s 14-team ODI World Cup, hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, along with the eight highest-ranked Full Member teams in the ICC ODI rankings as of 31 March, 2027, will make up the 10 teams that qualify directly for the tournament.

“While the long-term objective is to reach a stronger position in the rankings before the qualification cut-off date, the immediate priority is to improve the quality of cricket we are playing,” Simmons said.