Extended period away from the field due to COVID-19 pandemic must've been difficult, as Mushfiqur Rahim, the former Bangladesh captain, thanked the country's cricket board (BCB) for allowing individual training to resume at multiple venues for as many as nine players, including Rahim, from July 19.
"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," Cricbuzz quoted Mushfiqur as saying.
This first phase of individual training came to an end on Sunday (July 26). However, it is understood, the BCB is planning for a proper camp to start from the middle of August, which shall allow players to train collectively ahead of the tour of Sri Lanka that can now be played in October.
"What I did for seven or eight days was very good, because working indoors for four months and working outdoors is totally different," said Mushfiqur. "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," he added.
"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," said Mushfiqur. "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."
Mushfiqur said it has been really difficult to not play any match for so long, but also that he is beginning to overcome that pain and make mental adjustments to prepare for cricket's return.
"I feel really bad whenever I watch the game," he said. "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," Mushfiqur concluded.
