Was afraid at first, says Tamim as cricketers get vaccinated

A number of Bangladesh cricketers, who are expected to be named in the preliminary squad for the upcoming New Zealand tour, took coronavirus vaccine today at the Kurmitola General Hospital under the supervision of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

"The thing about vaccination is that if you know how helpful it is for you then I think your fear will be reduced. I will not deny that I was afraid. When the first approach was made, I was not sure whether to take it or not. But after talking to the BCB and when many people suggested that it is normal to have syndromes, it seemed to me that I could take it," said Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal to the media after getting vaccinated.  

Special arrangements were made for cricketers who got vaccinated today morning at the Kurmitola General Hospital. Apart from Tamim, players like Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Naim Sheikh, Taskin Ahmed also got vaccinated. 

Soumya Sarkar getting vaccinated. Photo: Collected

BCB president Nazmul Hassan was also present at the hospital during the time of vaccination.

The BCB will announce a preliminary 20-member squad tomorrow for their upcoming New Zealand tour. But the BCB Chief Physician Dr Debashish Chowdhury said it is not mandatory for cricketers to take the vaccine before the New Zealand tour and said the board will arrange to vaccinate those who want to take it later.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20Is in New Zealand next month.