Bangladesh prior to their return to international cricket, after over 10 months, had their first training session as a unit at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka Sunday.
Bangladesh are set to host the West Indies starting later this month and the visitors have already set foot in the capital.
Bangladesh last played international cricket in March last year when they hosted Zimbabwe at home for three ODIs, two T20s and a lone Test match.
International cricket for the country has since been on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
On the first day of training involving both the preliminary Test and ODI squads, national team head coach Russell Domingo, fielding coach Ryan Cook and interim spin bowling coach Sohel Islam went through a busy schedule conducting the sessions in several groups.
Top-order batsman Nazmul Hossain Shanto informed that the team are excited to have finally returned to the national setup.
“Obviously we are all excited as we joined the national camp after a long time and we had a good practice session. Although we were together during the Bangabandhu T20 Cup, it is a different feeling to share the national dressing room together,” said Shanto to the media after training.
“Definitely we will be playing international cricket after over 10 months’ time and we are discussing the areas to work on during the training sessions and hopefully we will be able to do well in the upcoming series,” he added.
Pace bowling coach Ottis Gibson and newly appointed batting consultant for the series, Jon Lewis are yet to join the setup.
A 38-member West Indies cricket team are set to reach Dhaka Sunday morning for a month-long tour of Bangladesh.
Posted by Sports Tribune on Saturday, 9 January 2021
Both the coaches, who have UK passport, have been put in quarantine in hotel following their arrival Saturday.
The duo is under the Covid-19 management protocol for those travelling into the country and is awaiting official clearance to join the team.
As per the protocol set by the health ministry, UK passport holders have to be in mandatory 14-day quarantine.
But it is understood that Bangladesh Cricket Board is making effort to get a special clearance from the authority for Gibson and Lewis.
Meanwhile, the 38-member West Indies team went straight to the hotel and will remain in room isolation for the first three days.
The visitors have travelled to Bangladesh with Covid-19 negative reports.
Before being allowed to the nets at the Academy Ground in Mirpur Thursday, the visitors will have to clear a round of Covid-19 testing.
The samples will be collected on the third day of quarantine.