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DT
Sport
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2016
Self-management crucial for pacers, says Al Amin n Minhaz Uddin Khan A fast bowler should maintain good self-management in order to avoid injuries, believes Bangladesh paceman Al Amin Hossain. The Tigers are often affected by injuries to key pacers, including the likes of limited-over captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza, Taskin Ahmed and Rubel Hossain. Left-arm pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman was the latest pacer to pick up an injury. “It is crucial for a pacer to manage himself. Diet, proper rest, the physio’s instructions and the fitness training routine should not be tampered with at any cost. All these are really important for a pacer,” Al Amin told the media at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. “For instance, if you talk about Mustafizur’s injury, overuse can be one of the reasons. So at the end of the day, self-management plays a crucial part for a pacer,” he said. Al Amin is of the opinion that physical development also plays a role behind the injuries of the Bangladesh pacemen. “Obviously the background of a pacer matters. Those in Dhaka are brought up differently while those like me from the villages had a different childhood. There is difference in body structure and the capacity of taking stress,” explained the right-arm pacer. “Rubel, Taskin bowl at 140+ kph while I bowl at around 130. So naturally there is a difference. Those trying to bowl fast fall prey to injury more,” he added. l
Bangladesh U19 duo Mehedi Hasan (L) and Nazmul Hossain take a break from their cricketing chores at Mirpur Swimming Complex yesterday
Brothers cricketers still unpaid n Mazhar Uddin The Brothers Union Club players met the Bangladesh Cricket Board CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury yesterday to inform that they have not been paid their promised payment from the Dhaka Premier League. According to Brothers captain and national discard Shahriar Nafees, they have received only 30 percent of their total payment. The BCB had instructed the clubs to clear 30 percent payment before the start of the league, 30 percent at the end of the league’s first phase, and the remaining 40 percent within six weeks of the Super League’s completion.
“We have received 30 percent of our payment. We were supposed to get our full payment by this time. But we haven’t even received our second instalment. All the Brothers players informed the situation to the CEO as the board was very strict regarding the payment issue,” Shahriar told the media. “The BCB promised us that if we don’t get paid by the club, the board will take care of the matter. Ninety percent of the Bangladesh players are fully dependent on this league. If the players don’t receive their payment then it’s hard for the cricketers to continue playing the game,” he said. Shahriar also raised questions
over the new players’ draft system, stating that it’s disappointing for the cricketers not to receive their payment, even after accepting the new system. The 31-year old went on to express hope that the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh will take some decision regarding the issue in the coming days. “They (CWAB) have contacted us during the BPL (Bangladesh Premier League) and played a very good role at that time. And by this month the clubs will have to pay the full payment to the players and if it takes long enough then I am sure the players’ association will take some decision,” said Shahriar.
Stylish Soumya’s big test awaits
n Minhaz Uddin Khan There is a long list of Bangladeshi cricketers to have made a flying start in the international stage and then quickly getting off due to falling form. Soumya Sarkar is still on the right side but it will take a lot of his determination and the support of his teammates and family members to keep him at the highest level. After a fine 2015, Soumya has gone off the boil somewhat this year, culminating in a mediocre World Twenty20 and a tepid Dhaka Premier League campaign for Legends of Rupganj. The second
MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK
season or year is usually a tough period for Bangladeshi players who often get lost at this stage. Soumya made it into the 2015 World Cup following his impressive show in the DPL which had ended on the day the squad got declared. What should worry him is Bangladesh’s upcoming international commitment. A cricketer often looks for a home series to make a return to form in international cricket. With the home series against England in October pushed into uncertainty, Soumya will have the challenge intensified with the upcoming series of away tours which include tour of New Zealand, India, Ireland and England. Soumya, who was originally picked as Bangladesh’s No 3 in the World Cup, joined Tamim Iqbal as an opener after Anamul Haque picked up a shoulder injury during Bangladesh’s match against Scot-
land. His courage with the bat got everyone’s attention. The Satkhira lad, who went to BKSP, scored 175 runs in the World Cup and stuck onto the form as he scored an unbeaten 127 to aid Bangladesh whitewash Pakistan in the ODI series at home last year. He continued being a hero for the Tigers even for the next two series at home, against India and South Africa, both won by Bangladesh. But a switch in format of the game made the high-flying cricketer soon face the horror. With the 2016 World T20 approaching, Bangladesh concentrated more on the shortest format which became Soumya’s worry. Bangladesh has played only T20 matches this year and Soumya has not been able to shine the way he did in the ODIs. Except for two 40plus scores, he had failed to deliver the way he was expected to do. Soumya thought that he would
get back into the runs through the DPL but he ended with 349 runs in 15 innings at an average of 23.26 with a single half-century. The performance has been below par compared to Soumya’s calibre and the cricketer himself is aware of that. Failing to get the right mentality to bat in the format has held him back. He consulted the coaches, opening partner Tamim and his elder brother Pushpen Sarkar, a former cricketer who has been Soumya’s inspiration, trying to find out the key to break the jinx. Recently he met his guru, BKSP cricket coach Akinur Rahman Rusho and has taken tips to get back to the purple patch and the work is in progress. Soumya should be aware of the challenges ahead and having played only a few matches out of the sub-continent, the batsman knows that the road ahead will be tough. l
On the other hand, CWAB general secretary Debabrata Paul said they are already in talks with the board and are hopeful of getting a positive outcome. “We are in constant touch with the board regarding the players’ payment issue, not only for Brothers but for all the other clubs as well. We are hopeful as the BCB has taken the responsibility and already paid the payment of the two clubs. But if things don’t go well, we will once again talk to the board,” Debabrata told Dhaka Tribune. BCB CEO Nizamuddin informed that the board will take action if the clubs do not settle the matter soon. l