HP unit starts training camp after long COVID-19 hiatus

Prothom Alo   8 October 2020
UNB

Dhaka

Bangladesh cricket captain Tamim Iqbal
Bangladesh cricket captain Tamim IqbalAFP

The high-performance unit of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has started a training camp after a long gap due to coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday at the academy ground in Mirpur.

Naimur Rahman Durjoy, the chairman of HP, said this camp will continue to the last week of November.

Of the 25-member HP squad, 12 are from the World Cup-winning U-19 team who were stuck at home for more than six months due to the deadly outbreak of COVID-19 around the country.

“The COVID-19 situation had been allowing us to host a training camp as the players were stuck idle at their home. And at the same time, we were waiting to secure a guideline from the ministry to resume cricketing activities. We started a training camp of HP from today,” Naimur Rahman told the media on Wednesday.

Most of the members of HP will take part in a one-day league comprising three teams including all the members of Bangladesh national side, but the camp is not only aiming to play to this series.

“The function of HP is to develop the players so that they can go to their next level as the cricketers. We had organised camps aiming to play a series, but this camp is only aiming to develop these players. The boys for HP will participate in the one-league which is also a part of their training camp,” Naimur Rahman added.

Since the head coach of HP Toby Radford is yet to come to Bangladesh due to COVID-19 restriction, the camp will be supervised by the local coaches. However, the foreign coaches will be available within 11-12 October as HP chairman told the media.

“I have requested the players to work on their flaws so that they can serve the national team without interruption. Earlier, we had counted many players as talented and gave a chance to the national team, and subsequently, we came to know their flaws. So it’s important for the players to work on their flaws and get them corrected before going to the national dressing room. They should take advantage of getting the opportunity to become a complete cricketer playing for HP,” Naimur Rahman further told the media.

Like the national team, HP was also scheduled to tour Sri Lanka in September. But the unprecedented situation of COVID-19 has forced to cancel that tour. However, HP chairman is confident to arrange a series for HP in the coming months.

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