The newly-appointed fielding coach of the Bangladesh national cricket team Julien Fountain urged the cricketers to put the maximum efforts in order to elevate their performances.
‘I will give you blood, sweat and tears and in return you give performance,’ said Fountain who got himself introduced to the members of the preliminary squad for the upcoming home series against New Zealand during a meeting at the Cricket Academy Building at Mirpur on Saturday.
All the members of the squad, except Sakib al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, reported to head coach Jamie Siddons and had a hour-long meeting where several issues regarding preparations for the New Zealand series were discussed.
Former national captain Sakib, who is currently playing for English county side Worcestershire, is expected to return on September 18.
The cricketers, however, got the much-needed break after their UK tour in July where they played one-day matches against England, Ireland and Scotland.
‘I am happy to be back in training again,’ said national skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza.
‘The break was necessary as we could spend some time with our family as we know we have a long schedule ahead,’ said Mashrafee.
At the meeting Siddons laid emphasis on improving fielding and bowling of the Tigers, Assistant coach Khaled Mahmud Sujon, physio Michael Laurence Henry, trainer Grant Trafford Luden and computer analyst Nasir Ahmed Nasu were also present at the meeting.
‘Some of us have extraordinary skills and we want them to use them against our opponents,’ said Mashrafee.
‘We all know fielding and bowling have been main concern for us along with the bowling and we hope to rectify our shortcomings during the camp,’ the captain added.
On the appointment of Klusener as a bowling coach, Mashrafee said: ‘Jamie will be there to help the bowlers but a specialised bowling coach is needed to improve their skill.’
Shafiul Islam, who recently got ICC’s nomination in the emerging player of the year category, hopes to bring up variations in his bowling.
‘Every bowler needs to have a lot of variations but one or two tricks remain under their sleeves,’ said the hero of the only Bangladesh victory over England at Bristol.
‘I want to improve my slower deliveries as well as yorkers as they are my main weapons,’ said Shafiul.
