Bangladesh sweat it out ahead of Sri Lanka Tests

Earlier last Tuesday, Bangladesh Cricket Board announced the 16-man squad for the two-match Test series. Thirteen players took part in the training session while the other three members – Tamim Iqbal, Shakib al Hasan and Mahmudullah – are currently busy with the 2017 PSL T20 for their respective franchises. Training started with a gym session in the morning. Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehedi Hasan Miraz sweated it out in the gym session and did running session separately. Later, the training session was followed by net session in the afternoon. Bangladesh have five pacers for the Sri Lanka Tests. Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha set markers on the pitch and the four pacemen - Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Subashish Roy and Taskin Ahmed - bowled for long sessions. Hathurusingha made them bowl on low and slow tracks in order to familiarise themselves as the wickets in Sri Lanka are expected to be the same. The other pace bowler Kamrul Islam Rabbi did not bowl but did some batting practice. All eyes were on Mustafizur as the star paceman has returned to the Test squad after a long injury lay-off. The left arm pacer looked comfortable and in good rhythm during the first day of practice. Strength and conditioning coach Mario Villavarayan informed that Mustafizur is in good shape and is ready to return to longer version cricket. “He played BCL (Bangladesh Cricket League) recently. He bowled well there. From my point of view, he is fit now,” Villavarayan told the media. Opening batsman Imrul Kayes, who missed the lone India Test, was overlooked for the Sri Lanka five-dayers. However, if the opener proves his match fitness soon, he can be considered for the second and final Test. “Imrul is doing his rehab. He is doing his running sessions at the moment. I think he has to play another BCL game. We will asses him after that. If everything goes well for Imrul then he can be considered for the second Test,” said Villavarayan. The Tigers will attend another day-long practice session on Saturday before leaving for Sri Lanka this Monday. Bangladesh will begin their first bilateral tour of Sri Lanka since 2013 with a two-day warm-up game against local opposition, starting this Thursday in Moratuwa. The two-match Test series begins in Galle on March 7 while the second five-dayer will be held in Colombo’s P Sara Oval, starting March 15.