DHAKA: Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo said on Sunday he ‘couldn’t understand’ Australia’s strict coronavirus (Covid-19) protocols that forced wicket-keeper/batter Mushfiqur Rahim to miss out on their upcoming Twenty20 International series in Dhaka.
In a virtual press conference ahead of the first of five T20 matches at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, Domingo questioned why players had to be in a bio-secure zone at least 10 days before the series.
“I can’t understand the stringent rules Australia placed. It’s very disappointing the way they went about it,” the South African said. “But look, we want to play against the best team in the world and it’s an opportunity for other one or two younger players or fringe players to come and play and I am sure they are capable.
“No Mushfiqur is surely a loss for us but we have got a big squad and some quality players to replace him.”
Mushfiqur returned from Bangladesh’s tour of Zimbabwe on July 14 but was then in contact with his parents, who tested positive for the virus, officials said.
Their positive results meant he could not meet the bio-bubble eligibility cut-off date of July 20, they added.
Officials said last week they tried to reduce the period to eight days for Mushfiqur, but the Australian medical team did not agree.
Opening batter/wicket-keeper Liton Das is also sitting out the series as he did not meet the protocol, officials added.
Both teams and match officials are staying in the same hotel, which was sealed off to the general public from July 20.
The remaining four games will be played on Aug 4, 6, 7 and 9.
Senior opening batter and One-day International skipper Tamim Iqbal will miss the series due to an injury.
But Domingo said he was confident that those in Bangladesh’s squad would perform well against the world’s fifth-ranked Twenty20 International team.
“There is no major injury concern. Soumya Sarkar is recovering from a mild strain that he is carrying from Zimbabwe but I am pretty confident that he will be fit,” he said. “Mitchell Starc and [Josh] Hazlewood are quality bowlers and we have looked at some of their footage. But at the end of the day you will play the ball not the man.”
He added that Bangladesh need to put away any ‘bad balls’ from the Australian star bowlers.
Meanwhile, Australian all-rounder Ashton Turner said he hoped to shine in the upcoming series after an injury-plagued career that has seen him play just over a dozen matches in the format in five years.
The right-arm off-spinner and explosive middle-order batsman has struggled with multiple shoulder injuries and has taken part in just 13 T20 Internationals since debuting in 2017.
His One-day International career has been limited to nine matches.
However, he bowled 14 overs in the last two matches against the West Indies in the recent ODI series, claiming two wickets.
“Bowling is something I’ve always loved and unfortunately due to my shoulder injuries I haven’t been able to contribute much in games,” Turner told reporters. “It’s been almost two years since my last operation. So I feel as good about my bowling as I have in a long time.
“Although I haven’t been able to bowl a lot in games, behind the scenes I’ve been working a lot at training.”
The 28-year-old added that the Bangladesh conditions would suit his game. “It’s nice... to be another option for the captain. Hoping that my bowling workloads can increase from here.”
Bangladesh have never won a Twenty20 International against Australia.
Published in Dawn, August 2nd , 2021