RETURNING TO CRICKET

Mushfiqur Rahim completes 'fruitful' outdoor training

by Atif Azam • Last updated on Sun, Jul 26, 2020, 08:13 PM

The Bangladesh 'keeper-batsman hopes that the team will be able to train together in the next couple of weeks © BCB

Mushfiqur Rahim, the Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman, said he was pleased to get out on the field and practice after being indoors for four months. Early in June, the Bangladesh Cricket Board turned down a request from leading cricketers in the country to resume personal training as they were yet to complete disinfecting the facilities. However, 10 players - including Rahim - were allowed to begin individual training from July 19 at different venues.

The first phase of individual training ended on Sunday (July 26) while the BCB is planning to start a full-fledged practice camp from mid August in order to enable the players to prepare for the tour of Sri Lanka which according to BCB sources is likely to be played in October.

"Many thanks to BCB, they gave us this opportunity. And special thanks to cricket operations, they made a very nice plan to provide these seven-eight days of practice sessions, it was very good and fruitful," said Mushfiqur. "what I did for seven or eight days was very good, because working indoors for four months and working outdoors is totally different. I wanted to run out in the sun, into the outfield, and also wanted to do the fitness and skill work. That has happened and of course thanks to BCB for that.

"At first I was a little confused, a little scared of how it would happen, or not at all, since most of the places around Mirpur are red zoned. When I came here and saw, my confidence began to build slowly. Because the environment is so good and everything is so neat and clean, hopefully, five or seven more people who have practiced, I think they will also agree with me that it was a very good environment where we had the opportunity to practice.

"It's an individual thing, if everyone is confident then maybe we can start in a group of five-seven people instead of 14-15 people. And I hope the way cricket matches are slowly starting in the world, maybe the context of Bangladesh is a little different compared to other countries, but I hope everything improves a little after Eid and inshallah we will all start practicing again as a team," he said.

Rahim expressed his disappointment at not being able to play the game for four months but added that he is trying to prepare himself mentally so that he can adapt when cricket resumes for Bangladesh. "I feel really bad whenever I watch the game. Sitting at home all day... it feels a little worse. (I'm) trying to figure out how to mentally prepare myself by watching the game on TV and if everything becomes better then we have some matches to be played up ahead, so I am preparing myself.

"And with these new rules, we know that not much can be used on the ball and batsmen are also having a difficult period. So I'm trying to learn from there by watching everything and hopefully when our international cricket resumes soon, we can go get back and adapt quickly. Everything is a matter of adaptability. I think the rules and regulations will be for the better and we must adapt to it. It will be a little difficult in the early stage but if we can master it by trying in practice then I think inshallah there will be no problem in the match."

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Mushfiqur Rahim completes 'fruitful' outdoor training

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