Bangladesh Cricket

BCB ready to host individual training

Online Desk

18 Jul 20 17:33:25

Image : Cricfrenzy

|| CF Correspondent ||

Cricket finally takes to the field with individual training in Bangladesh as Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced on Saturday they will keep ‘open’ four designated venues for individual training from Sunday.

BCB had been preparing the roadmap for individual training for quite some time despite the fact some of the other cricketing nations already began it in their respective countries.

There has been no cricketing activity since March 26 in Bangladesh following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While some of the other nations have slowly been getting their cricket back on track, Bangladesh haven’t made much progress and the BCB headquarters, which falls under the red zone in one of the worst-hit areas in Dhaka, has remained shut before the board decided to open it for individual training.

BCB groundsmen were seen cutting the grass of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium and its adjoining National Cricket Academy (NAC) premises to make sure everything is prepared for the cricketers.

A total of nine players from Bangladesh national team finally enlisted their names to have the outdoor training on their own initiative at four designated stadiums around the country from Sunday.

The four stadiums are Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in Dhaka, Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) in Chittagong, Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium (SANS) in Khulna and Sylhet Divisional Stadium (SDS) in Sylhet.

BCB, initially, planned to open the venues for individual training from Saturday and as a result off-spinner Naeem Hasan went to training at ZACS but later the board informed the media that players will be coming to these designated venues from Sunday.

Nine cricketers- Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shafiul Islam, Imrul Kayes, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed, Mahadi Hasan, Nurul Hasan and Nayeem Hasan enlisted their name for individual training.

Earlier, BCB held a meeting with 35 players and informed them they can carry out individual training at SBNCS but they need to complete it under the supervision of the BCB trainers.

These nine cricketers enrolled their name while on the opening day all the cricketers barring Imrul Kayes will take part in the individual training in the four respective venues.

Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Shafiul Islam will train in Dhaka while Syed Khaled Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed will be doing their training in Sylhet.

Mahadi Hasan, Nurul Hasan will be doing their training in Khulna and Nayeem Hasan will be completing his training in Chattogram.

Apart from Dhaka, elsewhere in the country cricketers can do only running and gym, while those who will train in the capital can have the luxury of some batting practice indoors.

The board earlier had turned down a request from leading cricketers in the country to resume personal training at the ‘Home of Cricket’ citing safety concerns.

However, some of the players had already started outdoor practice at their own that included senior player Mushfiqur Rahim as he was seen training at the Fortis Football Ground in Badda and many believe it prompted BCB to open the door of respective four venues.

BCB director and its Cricket Operations Committee Chairman Akram Khan, who has given a charge of overseeing and supervising the players’ activities of the national team, told The Daily Sun that the venues are ready to hold the individual practice session.

“The venue and gymnasium were ready. And some cricketers have also shown their enthusiasm to have their individual practice after a long lull. And so we’re giving the opportunity to practice on a personal level from next Sunday,” Akram Khan said.

These players will be continuing their practice till July 26 with the board’s dedicated Covid-19 management team keeping track and observing players’ safety issues throughout this period. The training period may be extended after Eid.

However, the country’s top stars, especially three captains in three formats - Mominul Haque (Test), Tamim Iqbal (ODI) and Mahmudullah Riyad (T20) will continue to have their practice at home even if they are staying in Dhaka currently.