After Bangladesh’s loss to Zimbabwe, Phil Simmons said, “I ask for patience from the Bangladesh people.”

After Bangladesh lost the opening Test match against Zimbabwe at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet, last week, head coach Phil Simmons asked the supporters to exercise “patience.” It was the visitors’ first Test triumph in four years and Craig Ervine’s first as captain.

In October 2024, Simmons was named head coach of Bangladesh. Since his appointment, nevertheless, the side has lost one out of every eight ODIs and one out of every five Test matches. Furthermore, it’s regrettable that this was their sixth home loss.

The team is in transition and will soon get back on track, the head coach told the supporters ahead of the second Test match in Chattogram.

“I implore the people of Bangladesh to be patient. I am aware of their intense desire to see the squad succeed. Please be patient. To improve our performance, we are working to set up the proper conditions. Players are chosen by us. They perform at their own speed. According to ESPN Cricinfo, Simmons stated, “The aggressive part comes into [things like] running between the wickets, attitude when you get to the wicket, and attitude on the pitch.”

Bangladesh suffers a batting meltdown as Simmons calls for patience.

The team’s shortcomings and the batters’ poor play in both innings, which resulted in the loss, were acknowledged by the head coach. With two set batsmen at the crease, Bangladesh batted on 138-2 at one point in the second innings, taking control of the match. But the middle order fell apart like a deck of cards once captain Shanto was fired.

“I believe we all know that, when Zimbabwe was bowled out for 191 in the first innings, we didn’t bat well as a team. We create issues for ourselves. Instead of just aiming for 200 runs in a day, we want to play a positive brand of Test cricket. They use the phrase ‘transition’ in the press. Reaching our desired destination will need some time,” Simmons said.