Tigers all-clear ahead of camp

With an eye on the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in June to be followed by a tour of the West Indies in September, the 31-member Bangladesh preliminary squad will begin training at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium from today.

The Tigers have had a two-month break from international cricket since the Nidahas Trophy in March, during which period most of the cricketers took part in the Dhaka Premier League and Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL).

The first week of the camp will see the cricketers undergo a fitness and conditioning programme under trainer Mario Villavarayan before the focus shifts to skills training.

There was a laundry list of injury concerns during the off season, but most seem to have subsided.

Mushfiqur Rahim had suffered an ankle injury while playing football during a warm-up on the fourth and final day of the BCL's fourth round game last month. Mahmudullah Riyad had also suffered an injury to his right ankle and missed the last round of the BCL. Both are expected to be fit.

Meanwhile opener Tamim Iqbal was ailing from an issue with the meniscus in his left knee, which was damaged when he dove to complete a quick run during his stint with Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League. That injury plagued him throughout the Nidahas Trophy, but he has now recovered. Although the left-hander is still undergoing rehabilitation, he has started batting recently.

Pacer Taskin Ahmed is also suffering from minor back pain while Mehedi Hasan Miraz, who suffered a labral tear on his right shoulder, is recovering fast.

According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board's local physiotherapist Baizidul Islam, all the injured cricketers have already recovered and there are no concerns with any of them failing to join the training camp from today.

"Mushfiqur Rahim, who suffered a strain on his left ankle, has recovered pretty well and there will be no major concerns for him in joining the training camp. The same goes for Mahmudullah, who had an ankle strain and has recovered after resting. Meanwhile we are already seeing Tamim started batting. Taskin and Mehedi, who had minor back and shoulder issues, are also recovering well," Baizidul told The Daily Star yesterday.

All other players apart from Bangladesh's Test and T20I skipper Shakib Al Hasan and pacer Mustafizur Rahman -- who are currently participating in the Indian Premier League -- are expected to join the camp today.

The Tigers are expected to reach Dehradun on May 29 before the first T20I on June 3 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. The second and third games will take place on June 5 and 7 at the same venue.