Drastic changes in attitudes towards fitness and workload management have been crucial to the recent rise of Bangladesh cricket on the international stage.
The country's top players have been occupied with both international and domestic cricket since last September, playing seven Tests, 20 ODIs and five T20Is, while this period also included a minimum of 12 matches in the BPL T20 season 2016.
But the tally of injuries in the last ten months has been minimal and it has been fascinating to see how the star performers have managed to avoid “severe” on-field injuries under the watchful eye of former Sri Lanka cricketer, Mario Villavarayan.
Mustafizur Rahman gestures as Mehedi Hasan Miraz looks on
DHAKA TRIBUNE“That is one of the biggest successes that I have achieved while working with these guys; they want to do more and work harder," Villavarayan told the media on the sidelines of fitness training at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. "They take the initiative to train on their own now, which was not happening a while back."
The trainer has been with the squad for around three years and is particularly pleased that head coach Chandika Hathurusingha has been able to negotiate a tough recent schedule with only a limited number of players to pick from.
"We do not have the luxury of having two squads, like other countries," Villavarayan said. "If you consider the amount of cricket we have played - both domestic and international - in the last eight-to-ten months it has been non-stop since the Afghanistan series (in September). That is why I have said we have managed well so far."
Nurul Hasan shares a light moment
DHAKA TRIBUNEAmong the 20 members of the squad present in the first day of the fitness camp, only six narrowly failed the fitness test.
Villavarayan informed that the BCB's High Performance programme is focused on matching the cricketers’ fitness level in line with the national pipeline.
“That is the thing we are trying to minimise, we have to make sure that there is no difference. That is the aim of HP. That is why these players are working closely with these trainers to make sure that there is no gap.
"We have to give local trainers credit. When I was on tour, these trainers worked with the players who are in the one-day squad. Local trainers do their job well. I appreciate their work,” he added.
The 24-man squad for the two-match Test series against Australia at home this August, followed by the South Africa tour this September, will undergo fitness training until head coach Chandika Hathurusingha returns to Dhaka.
Mustafizur Rahman gestures as Mehedi Hasan Miraz looks on DHAKA TRIBUNE“That is one of the biggest successes that I have achieved while working with these guys; they want to do more and work harder," Villavarayan told the media on the sidelines of fitness training at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. "They take the initiative to train on their own now, which was not happening a while back."
The trainer has been with the squad for around three years and is particularly pleased that head coach Chandika Hathurusingha has been able to negotiate a tough recent schedule with only a limited number of players to pick from.
"We do not have the luxury of having two squads, like other countries," Villavarayan said. "If you consider the amount of cricket we have played - both domestic and international - in the last eight-to-ten months it has been non-stop since the Afghanistan series (in September). That is why I have said we have managed well so far."
Nurul Hasan shares a light moment DHAKA TRIBUNEAmong the 20 members of the squad present in the first day of the fitness camp, only six narrowly failed the fitness test.
Villavarayan informed that the BCB's High Performance programme is focused on matching the cricketers’ fitness level in line with the national pipeline.
“That is the thing we are trying to minimise, we have to make sure that there is no difference. That is the aim of HP. That is why these players are working closely with these trainers to make sure that there is no gap.
"We have to give local trainers credit. When I was on tour, these trainers worked with the players who are in the one-day squad. Local trainers do their job well. I appreciate their work,” he added.
The 24-man squad for the two-match Test series against Australia at home this August, followed by the South Africa tour this September, will undergo fitness training until head coach Chandika Hathurusingha returns to Dhaka.