Bangladesh men’s national cricket team’s one-day international captain Tamim Iqbal emphasized on quick recovery of the players from a stressed mentality in order to prepare for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The left-handed batsman returned to the field on Sunday after a break of almost five months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tamim has been one of the latest cricketers to join the individual training sessions at Bangladesh Cricket Board [BCB] facilities under special arrangement.
The training sessions started last month but as Tamim was dealing with severe intestinal pain he had to visit to London for health check-up and then followed a two-week long mandatory quarantine at home upon return.
Bangladesh are scheduled to return to international cricket with tour of Sri Lanka in September-November this year that so far consists a three-match Test series.
“BCB had arranged a few sessions with sports psychologist in these four-five months so that stay stable mentally. I have done a couple of these sessions and these have helped me to be honest. In these four months we were at home with family but then again there was always a pressure of working at the back of your mind due to all the uncertainties. The life was and still not normal,” said Tamim to the media on Monday.
“The last few months were not easy for us but we have to make sure to come out from this soon. We need to get the point where we can say we are well mentally given we have an important tour [of Sri Lanka] ahead and I believe we have a good chance there,” Bangladesh ODI captain added.
Speaking of his skill and fitness level, Tamim found himself at a better place than expected coming back to the nets after a long gap.
“Honestly I did not find it to be that bad the way I had expected. Fitness wise also I think I am at a decent level at the moment. But there is a difference between working at home on machines and on the field under the sun,” said Tamim.
“I think it will take around a week to get to the desired level and adopt. I am optimistic for the way we are working following the schedule and protocol. We know the likely schedule of the games ahead for us and everyone is preparing keeping that in mind,” he added.
