Mominul Haque's plans as Bangladesh's new Test captain have had to be temporarily shelved because of the Covid-19 crisis, which has led to the postponement of eight matches across five series for the team. The latest to be deferred is the three-Test tour of Sri Lanka.
"Of course I miss the cricket, of course I feel bad," Haque told ESPNcricinfo. "Like everyone else, I also had plans for the year, but we have hit a barrier. But we have to remember that this is not in our control, so there's nothing we can do about it.
"We have had so many Tests postponed, but the only ray of hope is that since this is the World Test Championship, we may get to play those Tests. We had targeted improvement in small steps.
We were watching the pace-bowling unit progress on their own after we had set them some goals. Players' focus should remain intact, and we must keep remembering what we improved on when we get back to action."
Bangladesh has been severely hit by the pandemic, which means it could be among the last Test-playing nations to resume cricket activity.
The BCB headquarters remains shut as it is in one of the worst-affected areas in the capital. These circumstances are bound to make it difficult for a Test team that has been struggling for a while.
Haque was forced to take up the reins in October last year after Shakib Al Hasan was handed a one-year ban for failing to report a corrupt approach.
It hasn't been easy - his first three Tests in charge were in India and Pakistan, and Bangladesh lost each of them by innings margins, before beating Zimbabwe at home, a game in which Haque himself hit 132.
He has been checking up on his team-mates regularly. He talks to the younger players, in particular, many of whom are handicapped because of the absence of gym and fitness equipment in their homes.
"I speak to the players, especially the younger lot, quite often," he said. "I check on them, how they are coping with the lockdown. I speak to the senior players too.
Tamim [Iqbal] and Mushfiqur [Rahim] have equipment at home and you know how hard they work on their own. Captaincy is about being responsible and taking the opportunity to do something for the country. Only a select few get to that level, and I feel I am lucky to be among them."
Haque also stressed on the need to remain mentally strong in times like these, where the only option is to remain indoors. He spends time reading autobiographies and the holy Quran and sometimes watches motivational videos on the internet.
"As professional players, it is in our blood to be one with bat and ball, all the time," he said. "So it is important to be mentally tuned to yourself during these days, when you are locked up at home for two to three months.
I think you can hold on to your fitness by working out for five or six days, but being mentally strong is the most important factor.
"Also one must remember that although we are getting unscheduled rest, next year we might not get a breather due to the volume of cricket.
So it is best to use this time for one's benefit. Read a book of someone who has been successful, watch a motivational video or read the Quran. Use your time properly."
