High Performance camp begins today
The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur was abuzz yesterday as cricketers selected to take part in the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) High Performance (HP) programme reported to the camp, which is set to begin at the National Cricket Academy today.
The BCB HP squad includes 25 players. They aren't members of the 30-member squad which will take part in the national camp from July 20 onwards, but the HP squad as a base from where players make the national team in the near future.
Simon Helmot, who joined as the head coach of the High Performance programme on June 11 this year, is expected to join the camp in the first week of August as the 44-year old Australian is currently busy with his assignment with the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel T20 team in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
“It was earlier decided that he (Simon Helmot) will join the camp in the first week of August after CPL,” said Nazmul Abedin Fahim, BCB's national game development manager.
The HP squad mainly includes young talents such as former Bangladesh Under-19 captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Al-Amin. It however, also includes senior players such as 27-year old pacer Shubashish Roy who impressed selectors in the recently concluded Dhaka Premier League.
The HP camp will run till October this year and during this time the coaches will work with the players to make them understand the demand of the international cricket.
“The main focus would be to prepare them for the international cricket. So everything will be touched during the camp, from mental to physical aspects and there will be special sessions for the cricketers so that they can understand the gap between domestic and international cricket,” said Fahim.
“You see they are all talented young cricketers. We think this camp will help them to prepare themselves for international cricket and learn the craft of facing the challenge in international cricket,” he added.
BCB has also a plan to hire coaches and trainers from abroad for the HP programme's batting, bowling and mental sessions.