Tigers back in Mirpur

Bangladeshi cricketers returned to the country on Tuesday, May 4 and were in institutional quarantine. Discussions from the Bangladesh Cricket Board with the authorities succeeded in reducing quarantine period and permit them to train. They also tested negative in Covid tests.

While the other members of the preliminary squad were already in training, the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and the ones who returned from Sri Lanka joined today along with the foreign coaching staff.

Head coach Russel Domingo and fielding coach Ryan Cook conducted the training session. The training camp will take a one-week break tomorrow before reconvening after the Eid. 

Meanwhile, Shakib Al Hasan returned a second negative test while his fellow IPL campaigner, Mustafizur Rahman, tested negative in his first test. The results came on sunday morning. Shakib and Mustafizur came to Dhaka from India on Thursday.

The two cricketers are in institutional quarantine in two different hotels in Dhaka. Although 14-day quarantine is mandatory for anyone returning from India currently, the BCB is convinced that the govt would be lenient to reduce the quarantine period for these two cricketers.

The three-match ODI series against the Lankans starts on May 23 in Dhaka, with the second and third one slated for May 25 and 28.

Bangladesh’s upcoming one-day international series against Sri Lanka will begin on May 23 as per schedule despite growing uncertainties, assured Bangladesh Cricket Board’s chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury.

The BCB is now dealing with some major issues ahead of the three-match ODI series at home, regarding Covid-19 related travel restrictions and quarantine.

The coaching staff and 10 players out of the 23-member preliminary squad for the ODI series are yet to join the national team’s training ahead of the series as they have remained in home quarantine since returning home from Sri Lanka after the recently concluded Test series.

The board is also struggling with the broadcasting of the series, as most of the broadcast crew are supposed to come from India, but according to the current government regulation, the crew members would have to stay in quarantine for 14 days after arrival, which could force the board to defer the series a by few days.

Quarantine ends, training starts