Eid lull before action starts

LEADING THE CELEBRATIONS: Away from the serious business of national sports, players took a well-deserved time off to enjoy Eid-ul-Fitr with their friends and families, and the way was shown by different national captains. (L-R) Bangladesh Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim's festive mood was matched by his festive panjabi on Eid day, T20I skipper Shakib Al Hasan went back to his hometown of Magura, national football skipper Mamunul Islam spent the day with his wife,.

The country's top cricketers, including Bangladesh national squad members, were enjoying their Eid-ul-Fitr holidays in the capital and at their respective home districts, but it will soon be back to business. From July 10, a 29-member preliminary national squad will begin a camp on the newly laid turf of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur ahead of Australia's tour of the country in August-September. Before that, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) High Performance squad will leave for Darwin on July 1 to play five one-dayers and a three-day match against an Australian invitational 11.

But for now, it has all been about enjoying the Eid vacations after a gruelling tour of Ireland and England, which culminated in a historic semifinal finish for Bangladesh in the recently concluded Champions Trophy. ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza braved the rain to observe Eid prayers at his beloved Narail and the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman went back to their family homes in Magura and Satkhira respectively. Imrul Kayes, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim were among those who posted light-hearted and relaxed pictures along with Eid wishes on their respective Facebook pages.

ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was in Narail attending Eid prayers with his son. PHOTOS: star/COLLECTED

When the cricketers do get back to business, there will be things to mull over as, despite the positive Champions Trophy campaign, the performances of some players remain a concern. Batsmen Sabbir Rahman and Soumya Sarkar had unimpressive campaigns and failed at important times, while young pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman had a very ordinary outing in the eight-team event.

National women's cricket captain Jahanara Alam took this selfie while on a leisurely rickshaw ride. PHOTOS: star/COLLECTED

The Tigers have a busy season ahead with the two-Test series against Australia followed by a full tour of South Africa in October, and they will need more contributions from the youngsters after the seniors -- Mashrafe, Shakib, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur and Tamim Iqbal -- did all the heavy lifting in the Champions Trophy.

Well-known campaigners currently out of national favour -- such as pacer Al-Amin Hossain, opener Anamul Haque, all-rounder Nasir Hossain and wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das -- are part of the 29-member preliminary squad, although national selector Habibul Bashar had said that there is little scope to break into what is a settled national team.

Even so, chief selector Minhajul Abedin had said that experienced domestic performers like Anamul, Liton, Abul Hasan and Mehedi Maruf were selected in the HP squad for Darwin so that they could groom 'immediate replacements' for the national team if and when the need arises.

So even as they enjoy a deserved break from their sporting exertions, the national stars and the fringe players will know that there will be much to achieve and prove after the holidays.