Challenges surrounding Tigers’ return
International cricket is set to return to Bangladesh after a 10-month halt as a result of coronavirus pandemic as the Bangladesh Cricket Board will host West Indies for a three-match ODI and two-match Test series starting from January.
The Tigers last played a global series back in March this year against Zimbabwe and a huge challenge looms for the BCB to be sure that they put their finest foot forward both regarding the cricket on the field and the organisation off it.
Tigers' injury update
As far as cricket on the field, there are a few injury headaches in the Test squad. Bangladesh Test skipper Mominul Haque had undergone a surgery on his right thumb in the UAE on December 10 following the left-handed batsman sustained an injury while fielding through the Bangabandhu T20 Cup.
Another essential player in the longest format, off-spinner Nayeem Hasan, also underwent surgery on his right little finger, which he injured while fielding through the Bangabandhu T20 Cup.
However BCB's chief physician Dr Debashish Chowdhury is confident that both cricketers should be able to regain their fitness ahead of the two-match Test series against West Indies.
"In the last two weeks, two of our cricketers underwent surgeries and one of these is our Test captain Mominul Haque. He previously his surgery in Dubai and is currently doing his rehabilitation under our health guidelines. Then we have Nayeem Hasan who injured his little finger and his surgery has been done at a hospital in Dhaka. His rehabilitation may also start next few days.
"Our aim is to have them back again to proper fitness prior to the practice game, which is scheduled for January 25 ahead of the Test series. We are incredibly hopeful that both cricketers will be able to regain proper fitness before the warm-up match," Debashish told the media yesterday.
Another member of the Test squad, pacer Abu Jayed, is also dealing with a Grade 1 thigh strain sustained through the Bangabandhu T20 Cup can be expected to go back to the field by the first week of January, said Debashish.
Mominul Haque
Lessons from domestic tournament
Another main challenge will be creating and maintaining a powerful health protocol and a bio-secure bubble for the touring side together with hosts. However, the board will be encouraged by the fact that they arranged two local tournaments -- BCB President's Cup and the just concluded Bangabandhu T20 Cup -- while maintaining a bio-secure bubble. According to Debashish they'll implement the experiences of these two tournaments in the upcoming home series.
Debashish also said that Cricket West Indies had already given the green signal over the MoU provided by the BCB for the upcoming series.
