Simmons wary of Abu Dhabi heat

Bangladesh are dealing with intense heat in Abu Dhabi ahead of their one-off Test against Afghanistan, with head coach Phil Simmons identifying the weather as the team’s main challenge.

The Test will begin on October 9. Temperatures in Abu Dhabi are around 37°C, while high humidity can push the feels-like temperature to 42°C.

Simmons said the players who arrived from Japan had little opportunity to train before the match because of the weather and heat. However, he believes the squad is gradually adapting to the conditions.

“The main thing here is how they adapt,” Simmons said, adding that the players looked comfortable during training despite the heat.

Simmons also said the pitch looked good but could be slightly slow. He expects Bangladesh to face a strong spin attack from Afghanistan and said the team has prepared accordingly.

“We know we will have to face some good-quality spinners. So, we have prepared ourselves for everything. Our preparation has also been good,” he said.

-EM/AJM