e_Paper, Tuesday, July 18, 2017

DT
18
Sports
TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2017
Miraz receives NOC
for CPL T20 stint
• Ali Shahriyar Bappa
Bangladesh all-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz has
received the No Objection Certificate from the
BCB for participating in the Caribbean Premier
League T20 for his franchise Trinbago Knight
Riders.
BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury confirmed
Dhaka Tribune that Miraz has already been granted
the NOC to feature in the Caribbean.
“BCB has approved NOC to Miraz for his CPL
participation. He will leave for the Caribbean in
the last week of July,” said Nizamuddin.
The youngster will fly off to the Caribbean on
July 27.
Trinbago picked Miraz as the replacement of
Australia spinner Brad Hogg during the second
week of April this year.
Trinbago have already signed Brendon McCullum,
Hashim Amla, Shadab Khan, Colin Munro
and Hamza Tariq as foreign recruits.
Among local players, the franchise recruited
the likes of Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine, Kevon
Cooper and Denesh Ramdin.
Trinbago, who won the tournament in 2015, are
a strong contender for the title and will be coached
by former Australia opener Simon Katich.
Miraz will be the third Bangladesh player to
take part in the CPL after Shakib al Hasan and
Tamim Iqbal.
All-rounder Shakib will play for Jamaica Tallawahs
for the second successive season.
Shakib will leave here for the Caribbean on
July 29.
Miraz will play five or six matches there, provided
he is included in the playing XI.
He will be available for the matches on August
4, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 14.
Trinbago, formerly known as Trinidad and Tobago
Red Steel, are based in Port of Spain.
Red Chillies Entertainment, the parent company
of IPL T20 franchise Kolkata Knight Riders,
purchased stake in the Red Steel two years ago.
Red Chillies is co-owned by Bollywood superstar
Shah Rukh Khan. •
Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam, Sanjamul Islam and Mehedi Hasan Miraz wait their turn to bowl during training
in Mirpur yesterday
MD MANIK
Shakib returns to
training, Rubel
nearing comeback
• Ali Shahriyar Bappa
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan
returned to training yesterday after he was
rested for twisting his ankle while pacer
Rubel Hossain is on the verge of becoming
fully fit, informed the BCB medical team.
Shakib suffered a minor injury on Saturday
and was under observation for 48
hours.
But the left-hander returned to the fitness
camp yesterday and spent time in
the gym, situated adjacent to the academy
ground.
“Shakib hurt his left ankle. He suffered
ligament damage there. But it was minor.
The injury is grade one type. He is under
observation. The condition of the injury
has improved in the last two days. Swelling
also reduced. We hope that within twothree
days he can perform upper body exercises,
lower body cycling gradually,” informed
BCB assistant physio Moinul Amin.
Meanwhile, Rubel’s resting time after
surgery ends this week.
He underwent operation on June 21 following
a bizarre injury.
The right-arm paceman picked up the
injury after colliding with a door in the
team hotel during Bangladesh’s tour of
England for the 2017 Champions Trophy.
The incident occurred on June 15 following
Bangladesh’s semi-final against India.
Rubel is likely to join the camp in the
first week of August.
“Rubel will start his rehabilitation process
soon. He has already taken almost four
weeks’ recommended rest. After completing
his rest he will start his rehab programme
from lower body. He will start full training after
six weeks following surgery. That means
we are hoping that he will start full training
after the 5th of August,” said Amin. •
Soumya: My biggest challenge now is to score big
• Ali Shahriyar Bappa
Tigers opener Soumya Sarkar admitted
that scoring big runs consistently
is his biggest challenge at
the moment.
“I need to work on my batting,
definitely. Inconsistency is the
problem I think. My performance
in the (2017) Champions Trophy
was not up to the mark. But I
played well in the tri-nation series
(in Ireland). Personally, I am realising
that my own problem should
be solved by myself. If I get out in
similar fashion regularly, then I can
specify one problem. But I got out
in different manner. So the problem
is different as well. I am trying
to solve this problem. I have to
score big runs. This is my biggest
challenge,” Soumya told the media
in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National
Cricket Stadium yesterday.
“I was at the crease for sometime
in the Champions Trophy,
but in the other matches I got out
quickly. Actually this is my batting
style. When I get a big score,
it is good to watch, but when I fail
to score then my batting probably
looks odd. Actually this is the style
of my batting,” he said.
The Tigers are practising hard
in their ongoing fitness and conditioning
camp. The players have
mainly been concentrating on gym
session and running in the last few
days.
“It is important to maintain the
fitness. This kind of fitness camp
always helps players to remain fit.
I am working to become fit and also
on my weak areas for further improvement,”
he said.
Bangladesh’s next assignment is
against Australia at home.
The Tigers last played a Testmatch
series back in March against
Sri Lanka and Soumya played both
the games.
He scored 71 and 53 in the Galle
Test and made 61 and 10 in the Colombo
Test.
“If I get opportunity in the Australia
series then I will try to do my
best. Obviously there is a difference
between Tests and ODIs. Often
I have to play down the order in
Tests. If management thinks I will
be more effective down the order
in the longer version then I have no
problems with that. I am ready to
bat in any position for the national
team,” said Soumya.
The Aussies last played a Test in
Bangladesh back in 2006.
They will be up against a resurgent
Bangladesh side who have
played well in Tests recently, both
at home and abroad.
The Tigers won a Test against
England last year at home before
winning against Sri Lanka in Colombo
last March.
“Generally, we get few chances
to play Tests. But we are playing
well recently. We played against
England. It’s a good chance for us
that Australia will come. We are eagerly
waiting to play against them.
We will try to win definitely. And
personally, I want to make this series
memorable. I will try to win
Tests for my country through my
batting,” said the 24-year old.
Bangladesh have long been
searching for a seamer-allrounder
and as Soumya bowls medium pace
quite often, he believes he can fill
the vacuum when and if the team
requires.
“Well, I always bowl in the nets.
I am maintaining my bowling during
the practice sessions. Bangladesh
now play with three pacers,
often four. So it is difficult for me
to bowl. But if I get the chance to
bowl, I will try my best to do well
for the national team. I got few
chances in my career with the ball
but am yet to make any impact.
I have to earn my captain’s confidence
so that I can be a useful
bowling option. It’s a challenge for
me now to prove myself in bowling
as well. That’s why I am concentrating
on my fitness because an
all-rounder has to be fit,” said the
Satkhira lad.
Meanwhile, the left-handed
batsman praised his opening partner
Tamim Iqbal and informed that
he is learning from his senior colleague.
“Definitely, I learn a lot of things
from him. From the non-striking
end, I always follow his batting and
imagine that if I was in his place,
then how would I have played
the shot. Tamim bhai’s play has
changed a lot. He has matured a lot.
He reads the game so well now. I always
try to learn on and off the field
from him,” he concluded. •