The uncertainty and anxiety surrounding the fate of Bangladesh’s tour of Sri Lanka is increasing with each passing day as Bangladesh Cricket Board is still to hear anything regarding it from Sri Lanka Cricket until Monday evening.
The Tigers are scheduled to leave Dhaka for the island nation Sunday for the three-match Test series, and despite the uncertainty, BCB and the players have been undergoing the due process to prepare themselves for the tour.
The preliminary squad for the series has already reported for the residential camp Sunday and the training sessions are maintaining usual pace.
However, all of these are being done without a confirmation yet from host SLC and according to team sources, the cricketers and team management often indulge in discussions on the future of the tour.
The series fell into jeopardy after the BCB president Nazmul Hasan last week rejected touring Sri Lanka as per the health safety terms which were initially sent by the host.
Since then, SLC and the concerned authorities of the Sri Lankan government have been busy trying to work on terms suggested by BCB, and according to a BCB high-up, a reply from SLC is due by Monday evening or Tuesday.
Mustafizur Rahman is closely watched by pace bowling coach Ottis Gibson Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
It has been learnt that a few team members have even tried to gather an update from their acquaintances in Sri Lanka but failed to find a concrete answer.
“Of course curiosity works. The cricketers have been training for some time now, first individually then in small groups and now as a team. A confirmation of the series going ahead will help them prepare mentally so the sooner they know what’s happening, the better it will be with regards to preparation,” said a BCB official requesting anonymity.
Apart from discussions, the cricketers are also engaged in experiencing the isolation that has been recommended by the BCB medical team.
The cricketers, who are staying at a hotel in the capital in order to maintain a bio-secure bubble, are under strict movements.
A floor in the hotel has been dedicated to the team while meals are also being served under strict protocol.
“It [isolation] is something new for the team but everyone looked determined to adapt to it as they are aware there is no other way out apart from going through the process ahead of the series. They are having their breakfast and meal nearly at the same point of time as it is a prerequisite and we are also following the same protocol in the gym that is only dedicated for us and only after we move away it is open for public after sanitizing the entire area,” said the official.
Mushfiqur Rahim attempts a catch Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
Majority of the cricketers in the squad and team management have become part of the bio secure bubble, except for the 11 cricketers who have been kept separately, at BCB Academy.
Those 11 cricketers have been kept separately in isolation as two cricketers were identified as “borderline negative” with one of them showing classical Covid-19-like symptoms.
As per the Covid-19 management guidelines and to maintain bio-secure environment standards, the symptomatic individual along with all the players who have been in close contact with him recently, have been isolated until the next test Tuesday.
Bangladesh are scheduled to travel to Colombo with a month’s time in hand in order to set up a practice camp before starting with the first Test on October 24.
The first two Tests are likely to be held in Kandy followed by the third and final Test in Colombo.
Bangladesh were mulling playing at least three practice matches ahead of the series which is now in jeopardy due to the two-week long strict compulsory quarantine that BCB has said is not possible to go through.
