Simmons unfazed by Tigers' heat challenge in Abu Dhabi

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons remains optimistic that his players returning from Japan will swiftly adjust to the conditions in Abu Dhabi ahead of the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan, which gets underway on Friday.

The Tigers finally convened for their first full-squad practice session on Wednesday, uniting a training camp that had previously been split across two entirely different climates.

Six players arriving directly from the Asian Games in Japan—Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, and Tanzid Hasan Tamim—joined the Test camp after landing on Tuesday.

Those returning from Japan faced limited training opportunities during the Asian Games due to persistent rain, a hurdle that T20I skipper Litton Das had highlighted after the team missed out on a medal.

Conversely, the remainder of the Test squad spent the past few days conditioning in the scorching UAE heat, which included a two-day practice match against the UAE that ended in a draw on Monday.

"Well, that's the only issue right now. The guys who came from Japan, doing not much there, and then having to come in this weather... two days in this weather, it's how they adjust," Simmons remarked following Wednesday's practice.

"Because it's a mental thing at the end of the day, and it's how they adjust. And today they look good. They look good for their first day in the heat. So, I'm sure they will adjust themselves properly," he added.

Simmons also anticipates the Abu Dhabi pitch to produce a competitive contest, noting it could be somewhat slow while warning that Afghanistan will likely lean heavily on their bowling attack's spin options.