As there was a long layoff from international cricket, so I guess it is the right time to establish cricket fitness at the international level. Players can work as hard as they like to develop themselves physically but to get bowling fitness, they need to practice bowling. Now there is a difference between physical and cricket conditioning. We have to make sure that they are capable and physically comfortable with achieving the outcome when they go abroad. In the sub-continent, pace bowlers ball less but when they go to Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa - the seam bowlers have to bowl more overs. My job as a trainer is to give selectors and coaches as many players as possible who will be available for many days in a year and ensure the physical condition doesn't undermine when the players are performing in the field. There are numerous things we have to do with pace-bowlers and try to keep them available for as many games possible in a year. It cannot be answered directly because sometimes it has to do with how many overs they bowl, sometimes with the poor condition, and sometimes with the match load. Nick Lee: Often you can see that the pace bowlers worldwide are getting injured and stay out of the game for a long time. Do you think that the lack of strength is the reason behind it? The Daily Sun: The pace bowlers are prone to injuries more. In my opinion and after working with the players of other countries I can say that the players are at a reasonable level, they have the right attitude and approach to their task professionally and I am very excited to work with this group. They enjoy the challenge and they are engaged in everything that I have asked them. I am impressed with the players' fitness level, and credit must go to Mario and the psychotherapists. Nick Lee: Every trainer has his style when he works with a team and does things differently. The Daily Sun: How are the players responding to your fitness culture? So productivity has come by working on fitness professionally in this gap time. They don't get time to concentrate on fitness unless they get injured. Recently the players are playing a lot of cricket.
It was a problem initially but it also provided the players a good opportunity to focus on fitness without any distraction. Even various kinds of equipment were also sent to the country's players so that they can maintain their fitness level. I have engaged with the players through zoom and WhatsApp and sent them many videos that they can perform by staying at home. So it is something one needs to adapt as one cannot plan for it. Nick Lee: I think the coronavirus situation is challenging for everybody around the world. The Daily Sun: You got the job at a very challenging COVID-19 time and you also didn’t know the Bangladeshi team's fitness culture. It is good to know them personally in the bio-bubble. They have an excellent physical foundation, the right attitude towards the training. The Daily Sun: You have seen the Bangladesh team staying in the bio-bubble.