BSP-27 BCB president urges cricketers not to be demoralized

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ZCZC

BSP-27

CRICKET-PAPON-MOTIVATE

BCB president urges cricketers not to be demoralized

DHAKA, Feb 10, 2021 (BSS)—The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon urged the cricketers to stay motivated despite their heartbreaking defeat to West Indies in the first Test.

Papon said he would talk to the players ahead of the second Test through virtual conference in a bid to give them further inspiration.

Bangladesh lost the first Test to West Indies despite setting an improbable 395-run target, a thing that left the country’s cricket fraternity at a shocked state.

“I will talk to the players through a zoom meeting. I have already talked to the senior players and in fact was talking to them on regular basis,” he said here today.

“There is nothing to be demotivated. We can’t deny that West Indies played good cricket. I think it’s almost impossible to score double century in the fifth day, even the strong cricket nations like England and Australia couldn’t do that. But West Indies did that, plus we missed some good opportunities. When you miss the opportunity, you will lose, that’s the big factor. I think we have to assess those things.”

One of the reasons that was blamed for the defeat was Bangladesh’s lack of preparation for the Test. Bangladesh players though played a one-day and T20 tournament, they didn’t play any first class or four-day match ahead of the Test series.

Papon said due to Covid-19 situation, they didn’t get enough time to play four-day matches.

“We said we’ll concentrate more on Test cricket in the coming year so that we can improve in longer version format. But that year was washed out due to coronavirus. Moreover you can’t do anything suddenly. Hopefully we’ll get enough time this year to prepare ourselves for Test cricket,” he remarked.

Papon also said that the time is not right to talk about the coach and captain in the wake of just one defeat.

“When the series is going on, you should not discuss about the coach and captain. I don’t think we should take any decision on the basis of the performance of just one match. Besides that we have just whitewashed West Indies in ODI series. Now the main thing is to play well in the second Test,” he added.

The BCB president informed that the players will be inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccine after the second Test.

“I will decide the date of vaccination after talking with the players today. The place, where they will take the vaccine is also ready and the players list is prepared,” Papon said.

BSS/SMP/ARS/1940 hrs