After a one-week break, cricketers are set to resume their individual training programme on Saturday, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief physician Debashis Chowdhury said.

Fourteen cricketers joined the programme before Eid. They trained alone in five different cricket venues in the country.

Cricketers like Mushfiqur Rahim, Imrul Kayes, Taskin Ahmed trained in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium while Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahadi Hasan trained in Khulna. Syed Khaled, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Nayeem Hasan practised in Sylhet, Khulna and Chattogram respectively. 

“The individual training programme will resume from Saturday. The players will train as they did before the Eid. I hope more players will join this time,” Debashis told the media. 

BCB is in discussion with Sri Lanka Cricket for a possible arrangement of the postponed series of three Test which is part of the ongoing World Test Championship. The series was originally scheduled to take place in July-August but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After the postponement of this series, the International Cricket Council has decided to postpone the ICC T20 World Cup which was slated to be played in October in Australia.

After the ICC decision, BCB and Cricket Sri Lanka started talks to host the series in October. However, the final decision will be taken by hosts Sri Lanka. 

Meanwhile, Tamim Iqbal, the ODI captain of Bangladesh, might not be available for practice from Saturday as he is quarantined after coming back from London where he went to see a doctor to treat the severe intestinal pain he has been complaining about for a few weeks.

“Tamim is in quarantine as per the government’s requirement. We’re looking after him on a regular basis. He might need to test if he is infected with coronavirus. We’ll see when he can join practice,” Debashis told the media.

Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan presented a brand new Mercedes-Benz to his wife Umme Ahmed Shishir, which she revealed in an Instagram post on August 2. 

Shakib is currently passing time in the USA. The all-rounder has been serving a two-year-long ban imposed by the ICC due to failing to report corrupt approaches made to him by the bookies, with one year is suspended. 

The all-rounder will be eligible to back to the competitive cricket October this year. 

Due to the ban, Shakib missed Bangladesh’s last India tour for two Tests and three T20Is, which also included the first pink-ball Test in the soil of the subcontinent. 

Shakib was all set to miss this year’s T20 World Cup as well. But the World Cup is postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the all-rounder will be eligible to be selected in the national team when the World Cup is rescheduled next year.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to be staged in the United Arab Emirates from Sept. 19 to Nov. 10, subject to government approval.

The IPL’s governing council confirmed the proposed dates and venues during a video conference on Sunday.

“Taking note of the prevailing COVID-19 situation in India, the IPL governing council decided to stage the tournament in the United Arab Emirates and the matches will be played in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi subject to necessary clearances from the government of India,” Jay Shah, honorary secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said in a statement.

The lucrative annual Twenty20 tournament had originally been scheduled to start March 29 before it was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The spread of COVID-19 forced organizers to move the competition abroad. A window to hold the tournament opened when the International Cricket Council postponed the men’s Twenty20 World Cup, which had been scheduled to be staged in Australia in October and November.

International cricket was suspended in March because of the pandemic and resumed last month with England hosting the West Indies in a three-test series contested under strict bio-security restrictions.

The IPL council said it discussed procedures for delivering a “bio-secure environment for safe and successful conduct” and was still working on details.

The three-team Women’s T20 Challenge is also expected to be held in the UAE, with matches to be played during the IPL playoff week.

Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal returned home from London on Saturday. He went there to see a doctor about the severe intestinal pain he has been complaining about for a few weeks. But the batsman needs to wait for more to know details about his illness.

Before flying for London, Tamim underwent some medical tests in Dhaka, but the doctors were unable to glean much about the illness here.

“A few tests have been done in London. They took much time to do those tests. I will come to know the result within the next seven to 10 days. Doctors have advised me to come back to Dhaka, and they will contact me once they get the result,” Tamim told the media about the latest development of his treatment.

“They will advise me through e-mail. But if any surgery is required, I may have to go to London again. For now, I have nothing to do but wait for more,” Tamim added.

Tamim replaced Mashrafe Bin Mortaza as the ODI captain of Bangladesh earlier this year. He was supposed to lead the Tigers in Pakistan for the first time as a full-time captain. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, the final phase of Bangladesh’s Pakistan tour was postponed, and Tamim is still waiting to get back to the action.

The southpaw led the Tigers in Bangladesh’s first tour after the World Cup 2019 to Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI series. The then captain Mashrafe failed to make the series due to a hand injury. However, Tamim disappointed in that series as the Tigers had to back home empty hand losing all three games to the hosts. 

Also read: Tamim Iqbal leaves Dhaka for London for treatment

Cricket stars of the country shared Eid greetings with their fans. Since this Eid came during the coronavirus pandemic and monsoon flood, most of the cricketers are stuck at home.

Mushfiqur Rahim, the former captain of Bangladesh national team, wrote on his Facebook page, “May ALMIGHTY ALLAH accept all our Qurbani along with all our good deeds and give us reward in Duniah (earthly life) and hereafter.”

Another former captain, Shakib Al Hasan, who is currently in the USA, said Eid Mubarak to all of his fans and countrymen on Facebook. He wrote, “Eid Ul Adha is the day of sacrifice and commitment of Allah's orders. May Allah bless us with the same love and strength in all circles of life, and help all amongst us, who are helpless and in need. Eid Mubarak!”

Bangladesh’s ODI captain Mahmudullah Riyad also said Eid Mubarak to all. He posted an image on Facebook and wrote, “Assalamualaikum. Eid Mubarak to all. Takab'ballahu Minna Wa Minkum (May Allah accept our worship).”

Speedster Taskin Ahmed said Eid Mubarak with posting an image with his son and wrote on Facebook, “A heartiest Eid ul Adha Mubarak to everyone from me and Tashfeen Ahmed Rihan.”

Young all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin also posted an image on Facebook and said, “I wish you all a very good Eid Ul Adha. May this Eid becomes joyful for all. Eid Mubarak.”

Left-arm pace-bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who has been celebrating this Eid in his village Shatkhira, posted an image with his family and wrote on Facebook, “Eid Mubarak to all of my Muslim brothers & sisters around the globe. May this auspicious occasion bring to each of your lives health, peace and prosperity.”

Meanwhile, all the cricketing activities were on hold in Bangladesh since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. A few numbers of cricketers started individual training a week before the Eid. The individual training programme might continue after Eid and more cricketers are likely to join.

Also read: Most Bangladesh star cricketers to celebrate Eid in villages