Karachi: Bangladesh begin a two-Test series in Pakistan this week with their preparations severely hampered by the political turmoil that has wracked the country. Unrest that led to the overthrow of prime minister Sheikh Hasina kept the team’s foreign coaches indoors, strictly following advisories from their embassies, while mass protests stopped the team from assembling for practice sessions. The make-up of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is also up in the air, after president Nazmul Hassan fled the country due to his association with Hasina.
Cricket and politics go hand-in-hand in Bangladesh, but ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan -- a member of the now-dissolved parliament for Hasina’s party -- is being allowed to feature in the Pakistan series by the interim government. “Because of the situation it was not possible to practice,” spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed told reporters. The tourists got some reprieve after the Pakistan Cricket Board invited them to arrive four days early to make up for their lack of preparations.
A second-string Bangladesh team -- with six players included from the national team -- had already been playing practice games in Islamabad since August 10. To add to Bangladesh’s problems, in-form opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy has been ruled out of the first Test with a groin strain, but senior batter Mushfiqur Rahim is expected to recover in time from a finger injury. Bangladesh will be hoping hope to overturn their no-win record against Pakistan, h.