Workload management on BCB’s agenda

Bangladesh will likely have 40-plus Tests, 70-plus ODIs and 76-plus T20Is in the new FTP cycle. A first tour of Australia since 2008 is also being discussed, with Bangladesh eying a two-Test series down under in 2027.

Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) ongoing negotiations with other international cricket boards regarding the new FTP cycle meant a jam-packed schedule will be in the offing and cricketers' workload management was in the board's agenda.

Bangladesh will want to play the T20 World Cup this year and the 2023 ODI World Cup with their best players available. The discussions yesterday in the cricket board revolved around the workload management of the players, especially pacers.

 "Taskin [Ahmed] and Shoriful [Islam] are injured and most of the pacers are injury-prone. We are planning to manage their injuries. The CEO, selectors, team director Khaled Mahmud and chief physician Dr. Debashish Chowdhury were here and we discussed the pace bowlers' injury maintenance," BCB's cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus told the media yesterday.

Both Taskin and Shoriful are doubtful for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, slated to begin on May 15, with the board set to announce the squad today.  Taskin is undergoing conservative treatment for the supraspinatus tendon injury following his shoulder injury in South Africa. "If it takes too long to heal, in that case, we are talking to specialists and if required, he will go abroad for treatment," Jalal informed.

 Although Shoriful has recovered from his ankle injury, he will need surgery on a non-sports related issue. Recuperation time is expected to be small, Dr Debashish informed yesterday.