Talha Kamal
Former Bangladesh national cricket team skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza has been out of action for a long time. The 37-year-old Narail Express has not yet hit the ground running where other cricketers have started training.
He could not play in the recently concluded BCB President’s Cup. However, he was scheduled to play in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup starting this month. Now, doubts are lingering over Mashrafe’s involvement in upcoming Bangabandhu T20 tournament.
He got a hamstring injury a few days ago while running. However, he has not been able to start treatment yet. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief physician Debashish Chowdhury told this to media on Monday. He said it took 21 days to recover from a minor hamstring injury. However, Mashrafe could not be scanned as he was in quarantine. So for now nothing can be said for sure.
The chief physician also said, “A small injury takes 21 days minimum to be cured but since we haven’t seen him physically we are not sure of his condition but he has been in touch with Julian and as per his guidance; he has been doing the work. Although the hamstring injury is very small, it takes about three weeks to heal. Then he has to go back to fitness, he has to give a separate time for that.”
Mashrafe is currently in quarantine as his son and daughter have also been infected with coronavirus. If players want to play Bangabandhu T20 Cup, cricketers have to give fitness test, the selectors also said. Therefore, it is not certain whether Mashrafe will play in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup or not.
A reliable source close to Mashrafe indicated that he is not very keen to do the scan and want to start his training soon after he his son get clearance for coronavirus along with him as well that will make him eligible to resume training in bio bubble environment.
BCB on October 30 announced that the players selected in the draft list for the tournament will have to undergo mandatory fitness tests before being considered eligible for the competition. The schedule for the fitness test will be announced after the finalization of the player list for the draft.
Some, BCB sources confirmed that board is considering with the idea of not keeping Mashrafe in the players draft and instead keep a provision for him that will allow the teams to pick him in their team outside the draft, subject to his fitness.
