Despite green light, cricketers reluctant to resume training
Regardless of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Monday deciding to allow interested players in the united states to avail the board's training facilities and resume individual practice carrying out a four-month halt because of the coronavirus pandemic, a few players remain in circumstances of confusion.
Local authorities at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, an international standard venue, have prepared the bottom and are prepared to allow entry to interested players for individual training.
But several local cricketers would rather continue doing fitness home based as they have already been because the enforced break. While some cricketers are backtracking because of coronavirus fears, others are looking forward to a clear official announcement from the BCB about the resumption of practice.
The BCB considered making their facilities available after numerous videos of national team players, including wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, practising outdoor were posted on social media, stirring discussion. Some players have avoided resuming practice due to fears of being dragged into such conversations.
Right-arm pacer Abu Jayed, a regular member of the Bangladesh Test team, mentioned that he'd await BCB's official announcement before taking the field.
"I will visit the field your day the BCB allows me to start out bowling. I won't go without such notice from the board. The board is prioritising our safety and we ought to keep that at heart. I am not concerned about my skills because I think if I can keep my fitness then I can get my rhythm back quickly," said Jayed, who is doing regular running sessions in front of his residence in Mirabazar, Sylhet.
Another cause of players' reluctance to return to the field is the uncertainty regarding international tours and series. It really is still unclear at the moment if you will have any international tours this season -- especially following the postponement of the Asia Cup, actually scheduled for September.
Even the resumption of the Dhaka Premier League, which was halted after the completion of the first round in mid-March, is unconfirmed. Without cricket coming, players are opting to bide their time before taking the risk of going out to practice.
Cricketers are maintaining fitness by doing gym and running sessions regularly nonetheless it is skills training that players have already been missing most through the halt.
Khaled Ahmed, another national pacer from Sylhet, has been honing his skills within an open space before his house in Alompur. But, for the present time, Khaled will be practising in his front yard instead of hurrying to avail facilities at international grounds.
"I haven't set a date [to go back to practice] yet. The BCB also didn't relay any message to us. We've been touching the coach [Russell Domingo] and he has asked us to focus on our fitness from home as we do not have any upcoming series. He asked us never to rush into anything now. So I'll just wait out this month before time for training," said Khaled.
Meanwhile, Ebadot Hossain, another national pacer, has been availing the fitness center facilities at his residence in Moulvibazar and doing regular running sessions to keep himself fit. Bangladesh Under-19 pacer Tanzim Sakib can be walking the same line.
It had been confirmed after discussion with a few cricketers that they are now awaiting an effective guideline from the BCB before returning to cricket.
