Bangladesh Cricket Board create COVID-19 well-being app for players

Following the news of three former male players, Mashrafe Mortaza, Nazmul Islam and Nafees Iqbal, testing positive so far, this is the board's attempt to help the players stay safe and informed. It is understood that 70 players - from the the male, female and Under-19 national teams - are already using the app.

“This app will help the players maintain their fitness and for the board to keep their records and track of their fitness and health status,” BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury told The Daily Star.

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“This is basically to bring the players under one umbrella and the BCB has introduced it primarily for the contracted players (men, women and under-19 team). But we plan to add more players,” he added.

“At the moment, we’re not able to bring everyone under this app. But step by step we will add many more. One by one, support staff and others will also be added. In the beginning, we are bringing about 70 cricketers into the process."

“There are 30-35 potential cricketers of the national team. Among them there are contracted cricketers. There are also contracted women cricketers. The cricketers of the Under-19 World Cup winning team have also been included."

Meanwhile, BCB's hunt for a head coach continues. While they have received several applications for the top job, the board is yet to make an announcement on who will take up the role.

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Earlier this month, Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel, chairman of the BCB’s women’s wing, revealed to the media that a "European coach" would be hired. While it was announced at the time that a coach would be appointed within the next two weeks, Tawhid Mahmood, BCB women's wing in-charge, later stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had forced them to put a pin in their plans.

“We’re doing what is more important for the board. It’s right that we had started working on hunting coaches for the team but it has been delayed for the COVID-19 problem,” said Tawhid Mahmood.

"The CEO himself handles the hunting fully. He brings the matter at a stage and then hands it over to the respective department to strike the final deal. But the matter has not matured to that level. So, the appointment is not yet struck. It’s not a matter of two weeks or 14 to 15 days. It needs more time,” Mahmood told The Independent.