Tigers move around on rest day

Bangladesh cricketers enjoyed their first day off in New Zealand after a grueling quarantine period by going sightseeing and trying out a couple of adventure activities in Queenstown just days before the start of the series.

In the new normal, quarantine and isolation taking a toll on players' mental and physical health has proven to be one of the biggest hurdle for cricketers ever since the outbreak of the pandemic in March last year.

Although international cricket has resumed worldwide, cricketers have been asked to follow certain protocols and another term closely associated with sport since has been bio-secure bubble. Players have been confined to certain environments through the creation of bubbles, which have restricted cricketers' movement and at times proven to be mentally exhausting.

Interestingly, the Bangladesh team who are currently in New Zealand have been spending the best possible time as a visiting team since the pandemic.

After spending two weeks in a government run quarantine facility in Christchurch, the Bangladesh contingent moved to Queenstown on Wednesday to begin their training camp ahead of the first one-day international in Dunedin on March 20.

According to local regulations, Bangladesh players and support staff are now allowed to roam free without any restrictions and on Saturday they made full use of this opportunity in their first rest day since arriving in New Zealand.

Queenstown, which is known as the ‘adventure capital of the world’, is a popular destination for thrill-seekers across the globe with a variety of adventure activities on offer.

Pacer Taskin Ahmed, opener Mohammad Naim and all-rounder Mahedi Hasan along with national selector Habibul Bashar, Bangladesh Cricket Board media committee chairman Jalal Yunus and a few other support staff tried out the infamous jet boat ride in the Shotover river.

The ride is notorious for causing injuries to its riders as the boat goes at high speeds through the narrow canyons.

Taskin, who made his return to the Bangladesh ODI side after a gap of over three years, also did a bungy jump on the day and posted the video of it on his social media accounts.

Taskin, in a video message sent by BCB, said that he and the team enjoyed their day out.

‘The 14-day quarantine was a different experience for us. After ending it we have already practiced for two days. The practice facilities and everything else here is very good. Today [Saturday] was our off day. All of us in the team did some fun activities.

‘I enjoyed it. Hopefully everything will also go well in the coming days,’ Taskin said.  Bangladesh team will train for two more days before flying to the Dunedin on March 16.