Sri Lankan trainer promises to return soon
Members of the Bangladesh national cricket team will reunite today when the preparation camp for the forthcoming home series against England starts in Mirpur.
In the absence of head coach Chandika Hathrusinghe, it is however expected that only fitness training will be held in the first few days of the camp, which will continue for two weeks.
The absence of national trainer Mario Villavarayan cast dark shadow before the start of the camp, though the BCB officials said they were hoping that the Sri Lankan will join the Tigers very soon.
Villavarayan reportedly refused to join the team following the attack on foreigners in Gulshan café on July 1. At least 17 foreigners, which include nine Italians, seven Japanese, were killed during the attack on Spanish café where Villavarayan was a frequent visitor.
Two Sri Lankan survived the attack, which Villavarayan said created a state of fear in him. Speaking to New Age on Tuesday, Villavarayan, promised to return soon to join the camp after resettling his family members, who were living with him in Dhaka.
‘I will come anyway,’ Villavarayan said. ‘I am trying to settle my family. After I sort it out I will return.
Alongside Villavarayan, national team head coach Hathurusinghe, assistant coach Ruwan Kalpage and fielding coach Richard Halsall are currently enjoying their vacation.
While Hathurusinghe and Kalpage are expected to return soon, the BCB is unsure about Zimbabwean-born Englishman Halsall.
‘I think it won’t be a problem [to start the camp without any foreign staff],’ said BCB’s media committee chairman Jalal Yunus.
‘They will arrive before the skill camp while for the time being the camp will be run by the local staff,’ said Jalal.
The first two weeks of the camp will focus on the strength and conditioning for the home series against England, who are scheduled to arrive on September 30 to play a two-Test series and three-match one-day internationals.
A total of 30 cricketers have been called up in the preliminary camp with Sakib al Hasan and paceman Mustafizur Rahman are set to miss the training for the first few days.
Sakib is currently busy with the Caribbean Premier League while Mustafiz will leave Dhaka today to join English county side Sussex to play in NatWest T20 blast.
Apart from the duo all other members are expected to join the camp that includes some new faces along with some seasoned cricketers, who will be vying for a place in the final squad.
-With New Age input
