Phil Simmons Backs Under-Fire Jaker Ali Amid Form Slump

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons has thrown his support behind T20I captain Jaker Ali, dismissing concerns over the batter’s recent form and emphasizing that occasional failures are part of the game.

Jaker, who managed a timely 32-run knock at number four in Bangladesh’s recent T20I win over Afghanistan, has been under pressure after a string of poor performances — including five consecutive single-digit scores and a disappointing Asia Cup campaign. However, Simmons insists there's no cause for alarm.

“When you look around the world, international batsmen fail a couple of times,” Simmons told reporters after Bangladesh sealed the T20I series with one game to spare. “I don’t see any problem. He (Jaker) had a couple of bad games, and that’s normal. Cricket is like that.”

Despite Jaker’s inconsistency, Simmons was pleased with the way his side held their nerve in another close contest, praising the team's ability to adapt under pressure.

“It was an excellent match all around. The wicket played better today, and it made for a better game,” Simmons said. “We’ve got a number of middle-order batsmen, and we keep rotating them based on the situation. The players who featured today did the job, and everyone is improving — that’s what we ask for.”

The coach emphasized the importance of consistently winning tight games, noting that such experiences build team confidence.

“Winning close games like this is great for confidence, even though it’s not great for our hearts,” he joked.

Simmons reserved special praise for wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan, who played a match-winning innings of 31* off 21 deliveries, guiding Bangladesh home after Jaker and Shamim Hossain had laid the foundation.

“Nurul played a great knock. He brought us back into the game after Jaker and Shamim started it. That’s what we’ve been asking from our batters — to take responsibility when it matters,” Simmons said.

He also lauded the team's improved approach against Afghanistan’s potent spin attack.

“We played their spinners much better today. That’s their strength, and we countered it well. Yesterday we struggled, but today we handled it well.”

On the bowling front, Simmons highlighted the importance of execution, especially in conditions like those in Sharjah.

“You have to bowl fairly straight and wicket-to-wicket here. Our bowlers did that. I think our bowling has been improving over the last six or seven weeks. It’s been a key reason we’ve been in winning positions lately.”

He concluded by underlining the team’s steady development, particularly in the bowling department.

“We now know we can depend on our bowling, regardless of the combination. It’s a big part of our growth, and they’ve delivered in both games — especially in the middle and death overs.”

Bangladesh will aim to complete a clean sweep in the final T20I as they continue to build towards upcoming challenges with renewed confidence.