Cricketers get vaccinated

A bunch of the Bangladesh national cricketers took corona vaccine at the Kurmitola General Hospital (KGH) under the supervision of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday. A special arrangement was made for the national cricketers, who got vaccinated yesterday morning at the Kurmitola General Hospital. 

Dashing opener Soumya Sarkar came here at hospital with wife Priyonti Debnath Puja to take jab as the first national cricketer. Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal followed Soumya and appeared with wife Ayesha Siddiqa at the hospital premises. 

Apart from Tamim, the players like spin all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, pace all-rounder Soumya Sarkar, top-order batsman Mohammad Naim Sheikh, pace bowler Taskin Ahmed also got vaccinated. 

BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon was also present at the hospital during the time of the cricketers’ vaccination. The above mentioned players are expected to be named in the Tigers’ preliminary squad for the upcoming New Zealand tour. The BCB will announce a preliminary 20-member squad for their upcoming New Zealand tour today (Friday). 

But the BCB Chief Physician Dr Debashish Chowdhury said it is not mandatory for the cricketers to take the vaccine before the New Zealand tour. Chowdhury said the board will arrange to vaccinate those who want to take it later.

In addition, Bangladesh are expected to fly for the tour on February 28, scheduled to play a three-match ODI series and as many Twenty20 Internationals in New Zealand next month. Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal said after getting vaccinated that there will be no fear if you think how helpful the vaccine for you.  

“The thing about vaccination is that if you know how helpful it is for you then I think your fear will be reduced,” Tamim Iqbal said. “I will not deny that I was afraid. When the first approach was made, I was not sure whether to take it or not. But after talking to the BCB and when many people suggested that it is normal to have syndromes, it seemed to me that I could take it,” Tamim told media after being vaccinated.

In addition, BCB President Nazmul Hassan and BCB Chief Selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu had earlier been vaccinated.