Bangladesh pacer Ebadot Hossain insisted that ‘walking barefooted’ on the field helps him adjust to the heat and humidity as they prepare to take on Afghanistan in the upcoming one-off Test in Abu Dhabi, scheduled from October 9.
Bangladesh face the challenge of adapting to the heat in the United Arab Emirates, considering they have never played a Test match in this part of the world. Their only previous experience of playing in the UAE has come in white-ball cricket, and that too in day-night matches.
The Bangladesh team travelled to Dubai on October 1 and, after practicing at the ICC Academy for the first few days, played a two-day warm-up match against the UAE that ended in a draw.
Bangladesh were bowled out for 234 in the first innings, with Soumya Sarkar scoring 57 runs. Shadman Islam scored 46, while Naeem Hasan and Mominul Haque made 36 and 33 respectively.
Bangladesh bowled out the UAE for 222 in 53.5 overs in their only innings. Pacer Iqbal Hossain, who travelled with the team as a reserve, took four wickets, while left-arm spinner Taijul Islam picked up three. In the second innings, Bangladesh scored 114 for three in 26.5 overs, with Mushfiqur Rahim scoring 44 and Sadman making 32.
Ebadot feels it is important to adapt to temperatures approaching 45 degrees celsius and insists he follows a process to make sure he can handle the challenge of the heat.
“It is important to know (in advance) what the humidity is like, what the heat is like. What I did after coming here, the first day I practiced I walked barefooted on the field for about half an hour to an hour,” said Ebadot.
“It (walking barefoot) creates a connection with the field. The connection between the human body and the ground is very good. The body adapts to this weather quickly. If you come here and walk barefoot in the field for half an hour to an hour without shoes, your body can quickly adapt to this weather, this heat,” he said, adding that for the practice game he started his preparation 48 hours before the game.
"I started preparing two days before the match (against UAE). I drank more water and different types of drinks to stay hydrated and along with that I also drank coconut water and ate more fruits. I am drinking plenty of water and other fluids as long as I am in the room,” he said.
