The session included a 1600m run on the athletics track alongside other physical assessments. Young pacers Nahid Rana and Tanzim Hasan Sakib particularly caught the eye of Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) Strength and Conditioning Coach, Nathan Kelly.
Rana topped the 1600m run among 22 players, clocking just 5 minutes 31 seconds. Sakib secured second place with a time of 5 minutes 53 seconds. Praising the duo, Kelly said,
“Nearly 12 players recorded their best-ever times in the trial. Nahid’s performance was outstanding. Everyone in the squad is trying to improve.”
Kelly lauded the players’ motivation, adding; “They are highly driven and extremely hard-working. I’ve never had complaints from our players regarding fitness. They are fully committed, eager to improve, and their energy and enthusiasm are excellent.”
Explaining the choice of a time trial, Kelly noted,
“The results are less arguable. With yo-yo or beep tests, sometimes players narrowly fall short, and it’s tough to tell them they’re done. In a time trial, the clock never lies. In my experience, those who pass the yo-yo or beep test also excel here — and those who don’t, usually don’t here either.”
Since taking charge in April 2023, Kelly has been consistently collecting fitness data. However, he admitted that the tight playing schedule often limits opportunities for full-scale fitness training.
The fitness camp will continue until August 15, followed by skill training. From August 20, the team will train at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, where they will face the Netherlands on August 30, September 1, and September 3.
The squad will then travel to the UAE for the Asia Cup starting September 9, with Bangladesh’s first match on September 11 against Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi.
