Cricketers excited to get out of 'jail' and begin training from tomorrow
Even though they are not allowed to freely roam yet, they started gym sessions from Wednesday after their third Covid result came negative.
The captive phase is finally over for the Bangladesh cricket team in Christchurch. Their seven-day isolation period has come to an end on Wednesday.
Even though they are not allowed to freely roam yet, they started gym sessions from Wednesday after their third Covid result came negative. The team, divided into seven groups, will start training at Lincoln Green in Christchurch from Thursday. Players are all thrilled and excited even at the idea of getting out of jail and starting training again.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taskin Ahmed told via video messages that the isolation period felt like jail to them. It was a new and weird experience for the ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal. He felt like he was meeting his teammates after years.
All the cricketers are now waiting to return to the field.
Middle-order batsman Mohammad Mithun told via video message that players are finally feeling good after Wednesday's gym session and raring to return to where they belong.
"We had so many obstacles in the last few days. Slowly things are getting normal. Today we got a chance to go to the gym. I feel really good about using the gym after about a week," said Mithun.
"'I am really excited about returning to the field. It has been very difficult for us to stay in the house for that long. We have come to play a series and from tomorrow we will be able to go to the field. Even the thought of this is making me excited. We will be able to adjust to everything gradually when we return to training tomorrow," Mithun added.
The sheer challenge of facing new ball in bouncy wickets in New Zealand is already getting into batsmens' heads. Mithun understands very well that the challenge will be difficult as there are hardly any opportunities to play in such conditions. "It is definitely challenging. It is totally a different condition from us. We don't have much opportunity to play in this condition. We all know that the new ball is very challenging in New Zealand."
Bangladesh's goal will be to survive the new ball without losing too many wickets. Mithun thinks that if the team can overcome the challenge of the new ball, it will be possible to get better results than before.
Mithun previously played two Tests and two ODIs in New Zealand. He believes that his previous experience will help him to do better in such adverse conditions.
The series will begin on 20 March at Dunedin with the first of three ODIs with the second one happening on 23rd March at Christchurch, a day-nighter.
And finally, the third match will be in Wellington on 26 March.
The three T20Is will happen on 28 and 30 March and 1 April at Napier, Auckland, and Hamilton respectively.