Desk Report,
47 days of camp, 10-12 days of practice, disappointed cricketers
The national team is now resting to overcome the pressure of the continuous games. The ‘A’ team and the High Performance (HP) team are practicing at the Bir Shrestha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chittagong. However, adverse weather has hindered the practice of about 40 cricketers from both teams. The cricketers are also frustrated because they could not practice due to rain.
47 days of camp, 10-12 days of practice, disappointed cricketers
HP started the camp in Chittagong on June 10 under the supervision of head coach David Hemp. A source from Chittagong said that so far, only 11 to 12 days have been practiced on the main field in 47 days. Other times, skill practice and fitness work have been done indoors. However, as the work of laying turf indoors is going on, a break has been taken there too.
The manager of the High Performance team, Junaid Chowdhury, claims otherwise. He said that they have practiced on the main field for 24-25 days. However, several HP cricketers, on condition of anonymity, told Prothom Alo that they could not practice most of the days due to rain. This is a big opportunity for them to prepare themselves for the national team. But they are frustrated because they cannot practice in the continuous rain. HP coach David Hemp, however, sees something to learn from practicing in the rain. He told Prothom Alo on his mobile phone from Chittagong yesterday, “There has been some problem with the rain. You cannot stop the rain anywhere in the world, it is not under our control. We are adapting to it and practicing indoors and outdoors.”
HP’s camp will continue in Chittagong until August 12. After that, the cricketers will go to Rajshahi after a 10-day break—the second phase of skill practice will continue until the start of the NCL T20. In the meantime, HP and the ‘A’ team will play three warm-up matches on July 31 and August 1 and 3, ahead of the ‘A’ team’s tour of Australia. After that, there will be a four-day match between the HP cricketers.
The ‘A’ team has also been in Chittagong for two weeks, but has not been able to practice for 4-5 days. A young cricketer of the team has expressed his frustration about this. Considering the rainy season as the ‘off season’, various camps are held during this time. But the rain became a major obstacle in HP’s preparations for the ‘A’ team and the development of young cricketers before going to Australia.
