National stars like Shakib Al Hasan or Tamim Iqbal found Fahim by their side whenever they needed a technical intervention during their career. Fahim said that the current situation was a 'huge setback for everybody'. "Especially for those who earn their income from the Premier League, will suffer mentally," he added.

But he was also keen to look at the positive aspect in order to make the best of the current situation. The opportunity for everyone, not just cricketers, is to realign and reset themselves.

"Naturally the negative aspects take centre stage in such a scenario but if there is a positive, it's that those of us who are involved with cricket, be it coaching, as a trainer, physio or a player, it gives us a chance to organise ourselves during this break," he said.

The likes of Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad are quite regularly seen training at home in Facebook videos during the ongoing shutdown. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also sent the players fitness maintenance programmess. Fahim opined that now was the time for the players to get creative with their training. Personal structuralizing would help individual cricketers learn something about themselves and that, according to Fahim, would improve the 'knowledge base'. He would prioritise fitness but there were other opportunities.

"The cricketers usually leave aspects of training to the trainers or the physios but now they are looking at ways of keeping themselves fit. The technical side and tactical side too. Now they are looking at how they can do their drills and looking at how they can practise with the means they have. This creates an opportunity to get creative. Maybe some are studying on various things, others may be asking various people for advice on what to accomplish. So, the knowledge base will improve a bit. If someone is not taking this opportunity, they should be doing that," he said.

Even without matches to play and gain experience from, Fahim suggested other means to get creative with working out match scenarios.

"There are old matches to be seen on Youtube, TV or something else and they will have the opportunity now to see those matches. They can review situations and think of what they would have done in particular situations and how they can apply themselves when the opportunity arrives to play once more after the break.

"These are the things we can do to salvage things and get the most out of the situation.

"So, there are lots of things to improve fitness wise and tactically. Plus, studying and consulting with others will be important. As I said, it's about strengthening the knowledge base and in that regard, there is an opportunity to emphasise upon those things," he said.

For Fahim, while the 'lack of competitiveness' due to absence of sports is going to affect the players, the biggest setback was the young players not getting a chance to prove themselves.

"Either at the U-19 level, or the Dhaka Premier League or others, there were a few boys who would shine every season. Without competition, they lost the chance to test themselves and it's a loss for them and also for our cricket," he said.

(Part two of this interview, due tomorrow, delves into the current standards of the country's cricketing structure and what must improve).