Players believe higher fitness for NCL a step in the right direction

Cricketers Abdur Razzaq, Al Amin Hossain and Mohammad Ashraful have all expressed their pleasure at the BCB increasing the minimum requirement of the beep test to 11.

To participate in this year's National Cricket League, starting 10 October, cricketers need to meet the minimum amount of fitness required, or they won't be able to play.

Here is what all three cricketers told the media ahead of the NCL.

"I had a good beep test and I'm satisfied with my result. I don't know about the others, but from what I've heard, it's been good.

This is a good step in the right direction as the players participating in the NCL will have an easier path into the national setup.

Getting that level of fitness if you enter the national team might not be easy.

However I do feel that if players knew about the raised standard of the beep tests, they would have been more prepared. 

But we are in the right direction and things are more organised right now.

For the last five years I've been playing in the NCL and I feel that it's becoming more competitive every year.

Batsmen want to score big double centuries and bowlers want to take more wickets." 

- Abdur Razzaq

"It needs to be ensured that cricketers are informed beforehand about the minimum requirements of the beep test. 

If that is done, then it won't be that much of a problem to achieve the minimum number, whether it be 11 or 12.

If they are informed 10-15 days in advance, then it becomes difficult to achieve that.

I'm personally happy that I was able to score a 12, over the minimum 11 required, even though I had a sore leg." 

- Al Amin Hossain

"Last time my beep test score was a 9.7 and today I scored 10. I'm improving and getting better and if I can continue training like this, I should be able to reach the target of 11. 

It's a positive step in the right direction by the BCB as players had to have a minimum of 9 last year but it's increased this year.

The players that scored less than 11 in the beep test have all worked hard and their results are improving over time.

I don't know if there will be any special consideration for players that got close to the minimum of 11 so let's see.

Time is running out, only three days left before the NCL starts, so definitely I'll be working on reaching that target of 11. 

It's the beginning of our cricket season, so getting a good start will be important.

I'm playing in a different team this time, Barisal, and not in Dhaka, so I'm looking forward to doing well for them as it will be a new experience."  

- Mohammad Ashraful