‘Players appreciate BCB’s decision regarding SL tour’

Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo reiterated that while the players may or may not have discussed whether the quarantine protocols put up by Sri Lanka were agreeable, the players appreciated the board's stance on the matter as the series was called off for the time being.

For Domingo, the 14-day isolation would have mentally and physically put the players on the backfoot ahead of an important series.

"A couple of our players have been in isolation for five and six days, showing some symptoms and they said it was really difficult. For me personally, locked up for 14 days in a small hotel room was very challenging," he said during an online press conference today.

Domingo informed that the decision to play or not play the series under the proposed protocols, lay with the board. The players however appreciated the move.

"There were discussions amongst some players I suppose, but ultimately it was a decision the board made after obviously discussing with a few people. There is no doubt that they made the right decision and the players appreciate that as disappointed as they are to not be playing the series.

"But the players also understand the mental issues of being locked up in an enclosed area for too long. It's different for everybody and some guys might be able to deal with it but if one or two guys have an issue then it's a problem," Domingo said.

The coaching staff have been here for the Sri Lanka tour but will now work on individual aspects of the players while overseeing practice matches and maybe BCB-arranged tournaments in the near future. However, the coaching staff too have to remain in a bubble while group activities and training continue. Being away from family was not easy for him or his staff but he cited that the situation does not allow for much flexibility at the moment. "I have loved my first month back here. Good to be back in cricket and it would be nice to if we could get back into playing some serious cricket but it is what it is at the moment and we have to make the best out of what is a bad situation. So far everyone is happy, most of the families obviously but we also have to do a job to provide for our families, so just got to bite the bullet and do it," he said.