My Stint with the Warriors

bdchamp20 · #1 February 13, 2009, 05:04 AM

http://www.indiancricketleague.in/ne...20090211_1.xml

Quote:

Balvinder Sandhu

After coaching Chandigarh Lions in the first edition of the tournament, I was asked to guide Dhaka Warriors in the second edition of the tournament. With growing expectations and huge fan base, the ICL had managed to add one more international team – the Warriors. One has to be professional in competitive cricket, so despite forging a strong bond with the Lions, I was looking forward to my alliance with the team from Bangladesh as it was also the first time that an Indian coach was coaching an international team in the Indian Cricket League.

It did not take much time for my side to capture attention and as the tournament progressed, we were even considered as one of the favourites to lift the trophy. It has been a tremendous transition from being newcomers to reaching a stage where our presence and performance posed threat to the other strong contenders in the tournament.

Our successful run was the result of collective thinking, planning, team work and its proper execution. When the Bangladeshi boys first arrived in India, they were very weak physically due to fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. Also, the players were off cricket for a few months and thus had no match practice. Our practice games in Hyderabad were mostly washed away and as a result we even lost out on preparation.

Breaking The Ice:
I knew the senior players in the side like skipper Habib-ul-Bashar, Alok Kapali, Shahriar Nafees, Mohammad Rafique, but did not know much about rest of them. I did my own homework and even called up a few acquaintances in Bangladesh to find out more about the guys. I had no doubts about the talent that these guys possessed and a few net sessions were enough to reaffirm my faith.

During our first meeting, I told them that our first goal would be to make it to the semi-finals. I asked them whether this would be possible and they answered in the affirmative. I also found out that there was a lot of insecurity among the players. They seemed tensed about their future and looked a little insecure. I tried my best to pep them up and told them to focus on the job at hand.

Getting In Shape:
Fitness was our major concern and even the players realized it. I had an excellent support staff in Leroy (physio) and John who was the sports and conditioning manager, even Mitch (messuer) was excellent. We communicated well and it eased the job. The bowlers needed to get their rhythm back, so the net sessions involved lots of target bowling. I addressed the issues and told them to forget the critics and focus only on the performance. The only way to prove the critics wrong is by playing well and winning matches. I told them that public opinion will change once we start winning and even the Bangladesh Cricket Board will change its approach and realize the mistake of banning its players.

The message was drilled into their minds. The boys promised that they will perform with alot of intensity and that they will go all out and play exciting cricket and create a new fan-base. They lived up to it and I feel very proud that my boys worked very hard and played in an exciting fashion. In just one week’s time, the Dhaka Warriors played quality and attacking cricket and we worked hard towards achieving the goal I mentioned earlier.

Kapali’s century and plans for next tourney:

Alok Kapali’s scintillating century against Hyderabad Heroes’ was a shot in the arm. It put pressure on the opposition and even gave a major boost to the ICL TRP ratings. Very seldom do you see a century in this format and it is a matter of pride for us that our team member hit the first century of the ICL. We missed out on qualifying for the semis but never once were we disappointed, for we played to the best of our skills and worked hard but lost to Lahore Badshahs. We lost four games but from those four, three were very close. So it was a matter of luck which was not on our side.

For the upcoming season, the pressure will be on us to perform consistently. At the top level you cannot afford to relax. The expectations are much higher. We won’t let the game slip from our grip this time around. We have learnt from our mistakes and I am sure that the boys will return much wiser and you will see even better results from the Dhaka Warriors in the upcoming tournament.

A very entertaining read. I highlighted the bits i found particularly interesting

shabbir · #2 February 13, 2009, 08:43 AM

Very good to read.But there will be no more ICL.I think Icl will get slow and silent death by this year.........

BANFAN · #3 February 13, 2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shabbir
Very good to read.But there will be no more ICL.I think Icl will get slow and silent death by this year.........

I don't think so, unless the global downturn hits India very badly. Which is not likely to happen, at least the experts say the oppsite.

*AsifTheManRahman* · #4 February 13, 2009, 12:18 PM

Can't wait to see the Warriors back in action. It's a pity that the next season got canceled.

mijanur · #5 February 13, 2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AsifTheManRahman
Can't wait to see the Warriors back in action. It's a pity that the next season got canceled.

i dont think that it is cancelled. i read it and it says that icl world series cancelled, it didnt say abt the whole tournment

Ajfar · #6 February 13, 2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AsifTheManRahman
Can't wait to see the Warriors back in action. It's a pity that the next season got canceled.

bhaijan its not the season.its the world series tournament..dn't worry the season will be on as usual..unless BCCI comes up with sum slick tricks..

bdchamp20 · #7 February 13, 2009, 03:37 PM

Just to clarify, it was the ICL World Series (which was postponed after the Mumbai attacks) that got cancelled. They were planning to finish that tournament next month but instead cancelled it. And I applaud this move as I am not a big fan of this concept. There should be only one Bangladesh team.

The dates for ICL season 3 are yet to be announced. The ICL officials are still planning the tournament. Hopefully it will go through and the Warriors will bring home the trophy.

Meanwhile the ICC will seriously push for a resolution of this whole ICL saga on the 21st of February (could they have picked a better date

) And I am hoping we will have Alok, SN, Aftab, Dhiman and the others back for the Pak series.

mijanur · #8 February 13, 2009, 04:58 PM

i told all of u guys that its only world series

CholCholBD · #9 February 13, 2009, 05:17 PM

Dhaka Warriors is one of our teams. They are our blood and our own boys. Please be respectful before making any idiotic comments in the future.

ICL did not get cancelled. Please do not wish anyone any harm. Its disrespectful and childish.

tonoy · #10 February 13, 2009, 05:22 PM

Honestly, how low can some of you guys be? Some of you were enjoying the demise of these players. It is as though, you want them to fail in life. Let's not get overboard with hatred.

mijanur · #11 February 13, 2009, 05:49 PM

icl is still enjoyable

Ashfaq · #12 February 14, 2009, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonoy
Honestly, how low can some of you guys be? Some of you were enjoying the demise of these players. It is as though, you want them to fail in life. Let's not get overboard with hatred.

I don't think we want them to fail. They made their bed and they'll sleep on it. Doesn't matter much to me. I wish them all the best. But I don't wanna see Dhiman in particuler ever donning Red and green. If he thinks he did enough for this country, then so be it. He did enough. His service is no longer required. Same goes for SN. These guys are good player but they are not fit to play in our national team anymore. It'll do more harm then good. Cricket is after all, a team game. They belong in that DW team, let them stay where they are most comfortable.

*AsifTheManRahman* · #13 February 14, 2009, 12:20 AM

Not sure what might have triggered #9 and #10. People are hardly hating in this thread.

tonoy · #14 February 14, 2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AsifTheManRahman
Not sure what might have triggered #9 and #10. People are hardly hating in this thread.

Its not this thread. It was a thread on cancellation of the march games.

Rifat · #15 February 14, 2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AsifTheManRahman
Can't wait to see the Warriors back in action. It's a pity that the next season got canceled.

yes!!! even though i am still a bit bitter from them betraying Bangladesh national team, i still enjoyed Shahriar Nafees's beating ICL India

you know, time is still on their side! it would still not be a bad idea if someday they come back to national team as a better player! but i will have them pay a fine to BCB and write apology to fans in the media and to the Bangladesh National Team.

for now, i think these players still need more serious training

so now is not really the time to come back to the national team.

i can assure you: that 10 year Ban was a hoax! mark my words...in the not too distant future it will/may cut down to 5 or even 2 years...

look at what the other boards are doing!