With eyes on the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, Bangladesh national team fitness camp is set to begin Monday at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
A group of around 32 cricketers are to be part of this camp.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board for unknown reasons are not revealing the list of cricketers who will take part in the week-long camp.
According to the chief of the national selection panel Minhajul Abedin, the board will later declare a 21-or 22-member preliminary squad for the Asia Cup which will start skill training from August 8.
“We will have a yo-yo test on August 3. We want to see the level of the fitness of the cricketers. The results will however, not affect their selection. It is just to see what level they are in at the moment in terms of fitness. We have listed 32 cricketers for the fitness camp. The skill camp will start on August 8 so before that we will announce a 21- or 22-member squad for the Asia Cup,” informed Minhajul to the media in Mirpur Sunday.
“We are not naming the 32-member squad but will announce the 21-, 22-member squad. The 32-member squad involves players from the national dressing room, Bangladesh Tigers program and High Performance Unit,” the former Bangladesh captain added.
Though it is being widely reported in the media, chief selector Minhajul informed that he is unaware of Bangladesh One Day International captain Tamim Iqbal's latest injury status.
According to media reports Tamim, who is scheduled to reach Dhaka from London Monday, has taken two injections in his injured lower back and can return to light intensity training following a week-long break.
“We [selection panel] have not received any update from the medical team yet. We are expecting to receive a detailed report [on Tamim] before finalizing the team [for the Asia Cup]. We are expecting him to recover soon and join the team,” said Minhajul.
Following a long uncertainty due to political tensions between India and Pakistan, the Asian Cricket Council had announced the schedule of the six-nation “hybrid” tournament.
Though Pakistan is the host nation, tensions between India and Pakistan cricket authorities saw venues from Sri Lanka added to the tournament.
Off the 13 games, only four matches of the competition will now be held in Pakistan.
Bangladesh will first face Sri Lanka in the Group B opener at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on August 31.
Bangladesh team will then travel to Lahore for their second and final group stage game against Afghanistan at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on September 3.
