Mr AbrahamBangladesh star Shakib al Hasan has started physical training, eyeing a return to the field with the one-day international and Twenty20 international series at home against Afghanistan in July.
Shakib has been ruled out of the one-off Test match against visitors Afghanistan, set to start this Wednesday, at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium as the left-arm all-rounder is recovering from a finger injury.
He was sidelined from competitive action for around six weeks with an injury on the tip of his right index finger after attempting a catch during the second ODI against Ireland in Chelmsford, England last month.
Shakib’s rehabilitation process began Thursday at the home of cricket in Mirpur as he was seen attending a 45-minute long running session on the center field.
“I have seen his latest x-ray, it looks fine. We are hopeful that he will be available from the ODI series [against Afghanistan],” said Bangladesh Cricket Board’s chief physician Dr Debashish Chowdhury to the media Thursday.
Meanwhile, the cricketers training amid the abnormal high temperature across the country has been a concern for the BCB.
According to Debashish, measures are already in place to ensure the cricketers remain fit.
“We advise the players to pre-hydrate to avoid dehydration, that is to drink enough water a day before the game to maintain their hydration status. We are ensuring enough breaks in training sessions to decrease the heat. They are advised to be under shade during these breaks,” said Debashish.
“There are frequent water breaks for hydration, whenever they are back in the dressing room, we ensure to decrease the core heat by applying ice at places in the body and also there is ice bath facility. The risk is higher and the management becomes tough in longer-version game as there is not enough time to bring down the body heat properly as you are on the field for five days at a stretch. But we have experienced physio and trainer with the team to ensure proper care. The cricketers are also learning and knows the dos and don’ts. It is team effort to ensure the players are at less risk of heat related injury,” the BCB official added.
Afghanistan cricket team are scheduled to reach Dhaka Saturday and feature in the only Test in Mirpur from June 14-18.
There will be a break to the series for Eid-ul-Azha during which Afghanistan will travel back home and return to Bangladesh on July 1 to complete the series.
In the second phase Bangladesh will take on Afghanistan in three ODIs scheduled to be held in Chittagong on July 5, 8 and 11 respectively.
The two teams will then travel to Sylhet to fight it out in the two T20Is on July 14 and 16 respectively.
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