Mash urges Tigers to keep them fit
He thinks England would visit Bangladesh in schedule time
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza wants the senior players to take the responsibility of guiding the junior players as the national teams conditioning camp for the upcoming home series against England began in unusual manner at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Local trainer conducted the fitness session on the first day of the training after foreign staffs of the team delayed their arrival in the country. This is somewhat rare incident in the Bangladeshs practice session but according to Mashrafe, the players know the value of keeping the fitness.
We are not used to start the fitness session without Mario Villavarayan (the Sri Lankan fitness trainer). But there is Ifti (Iftekharul Islam) who has been with us for long. He has been given the direction. Besides, the players took the guideline of what they should do, Mashrafe told the reporters after the opening days practice.
Everybody knows that they themselves have to do their job. Its not that if Mario is there well push ourselves. The players know that they would become unfit if they remain out of the game for one and half months. So its an opportunity to learn how to take care of themselves, how to keep the fitness.
Fitness trainer Mario Villavarayan was set to conduct the fitness training session but he didnt join the team as his family was panicked as a result of the terror attack in the Holy Artisan Cafe in Gulshan on July 1. Mario Villavarayen and head coach Chandika Hathurusingha were the regular visitors in the Spanish cafe and one of their close Sri Lankan friends was survivor from the Cafe on that black night. BCB said it had suggested Hathurusingha to delay his arrival since the players will only do fitness training at the moment. However all of the foreign staffs are expected to join the teams practice session in the first week of the next month.
The senior players have the responsibility to guide the young players. I want them to take the role to push the junior players. We have the seniors like Tamim, Mushfiqur, Mahmudullah, Shahriar Nafees, Roqibul Hasan who all are fit and know how to keep them fit. So they should pass their knowledge, Mashrafe said.
The terror attack in countrys diplomatic zone Gulshan and Sholakia Moidan in Kishoreganj in the first week of this month prompted the government to take extra security all over the country. In line of the governments directive, the BCB also reinforced its security arrangement in the stadium and its adjacent area. The players also had to go through security check-up in the stadium. It was though unusual situation for them but captain Mashrafe welcomes the decision.
There is nothing to feel uncomfortable (with the reinforcement of the security). This is okay for us, he said.
The captain expected that England would visit the Bangladesh as it is scheduled.
I personally believe that England would visit Bangladesh. World knows that Bangladeshi people are cricket-frenzied. England always help Bangladesh and their Under-19 team also played in Bangladesh during the Under-19 World Cup when situation of the country wasnt so good.
No doubt, they will definitely get a top class security. The Bangladeshi people know how to honour the cricketers. I dont think there will be any problem.
