The Bangladesh team's preparatory measures for their month long tour of Zimbabwe have ended and the players are looking forward to meet the stern challenge. On Saturday a brief press conference was arranged in the auditorium of Bangladesh Cricket Board on the eve of Bangladesh's first overseas tour as a Test playing nation. Sports journalists from different media organisations and cricket officials participated in this meeting.

Bangladeshi captain Naimur Rahman, coach Trevor Chappell, physio John Gloster and manager Mehbubur Rahman took part in the discussion and answered questions on different angles of the tour. Most of the questions were addressed to coach Trevor Chappell. The former Australian Test player's replies were candid and optimistic. With the practice match arranged before the tour bringing gloom to supporters, some questions were critical of the team.

But Chappell adroitly handled the situation. He said that his team would try their best not to let their countrymen's heads down but it must be remembered as well that Bangladesh had entered the longer version of the game recently, so the expectations should be proportionate.

Skipper Naimur Rahman had to defend himself for his struggling form but he was sure he could overcome it. Being a spin-based team Bangladesh has always lacked a quality fast bowler but Chappell refuted this argument, saying he had seen some young seam bowlers who had the potential to be future stars. "The batting lineup is pretty strong to settle things in favor. We are depending on this power and our pace attack, though not comparable to Zimbabwe's one, is not scrawny. If our players give the best they have, I reckon we won't frustrate the crowd" he added.

The team attended a final official dinner in a city restaurant on Saturday evening. Bangladesh's first engagement is a warm-up one-dayer against CFX Academy on April 4 prior to a three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe starting from April 7. The one-day series will be followed by two Test matches.

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