ZCZC
BSP-11
CRICKET-PLAYERS-EXCITED
Cricketers excited to be back at International cricket
DHAKA, Jan 10, 2021 (BSS)—The Bangladesh cricketers are excited to prepare for International cricket again as they started practice session for the West Indies series today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
The Tigers will play two Tests and three-match ODI in the series, which will be their first International assignment since the Covid-19 outbreak. Bangladesh played their last International against Zimbabwe in February-March last year.
“We are so much excited,” batsman Nazmul Hossain Shanto said here today. “After a long time, we joined the camp of the national team and there is a good practice session today. We have enjoyed it a lot. Though we stayed together during the last tournament, sharing the dressing room of the national team is altogether a different feeling.”
There is however a lot at stake for Tigers in the upcoming series. The two Tests that they would play are part of the ICC World Test Championship. Bangladesh are expected to win the series since the West Indies side got weakened due to the absence of 12 first choice players who opted out of the tour due to Covid-19 fear and personal reasons.
Bangladesh is yet to open their account in the point table and hence it is a chance to amass some points.
The three-match ODI series is the part of ‘ICC Cricket World Cup Super League’, which is also significant because points here will be counted for the direct qualification in the 2023 World Cup in India. If Bangladesh can keep them at eighth position in the rankings, they will play the World Cup directly, otherwise, they would have to play the Qualifier for qualification.
Therefore the magnitude of the series is huge even though the West Indies side is not strong enough at least on paper.
Bangladesh players however are confident about their chances in the series, knowing how the series will benefit them.
“I think our preparation is good even though the fact is that we are going to play International cricket after one year. We had played BCB President’s Cup and Bangabandhu T20 Cup. So the preparation has been good and we have discussed it among us,” Shanto remarked.
“We would play two practice games amongst us. If we can play well in those two matches, I think we will have no problem against West Indies,” he said.
BSS/SMP/AU17:25 hrs