As per Bangladesh’s Asia Cup schedule, the Tigers will face Sri Lanka in their opening group match in Kandy, Sri Lanka, on August 31 and then will have to be in Pakistan’s Lahore in two days to play Afghanistan.
Bangladesh will be afforded chartered flights as they are one of the teams that will play matches both in Pakistan and Sri Lanka as per the hybrid model. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cricket operations committee chairman Jalal Yunus talked to the media yesterday and said that the board is aware of this ‘travelling issue’.
“Following our first game in Kandy, we have to leave for Lahore. It is what it is, and we can not do anything about it. It’s [Asian Cricket Council] ACC’s decision. ACC will be providing chartered flights to make the journey more comfortable. The arrangement will be for all the teams who have matches in two countries. It’s ACC’s responsibility. We, of course, want the flights to be from good organisations,” Jalal informed the media yesterday.
The tournament is set to test Bangladesh’s mental agility in terms of coping with logistical challenges while focusing on the matches as well.
Bangladesh, if they qualify for the Super Four stage, will get two days to prepare for their game against Pakistan on September 6. Then the team will have to hurry back to Colombo for their Super Four game on September 9, with Sri Lanka being the likely opponent. Following that game, the Tigers, however, would get some rest days before their last Super Four game, against India most likely, on September 15.
“Of course, it’s a problem to travel this much. We all know that to take a flight, you have to be at the airport two hours beforehand with your luggage. There is the matter of jet lag as well. So, that will create a mental pressure. Pakistan is far away from Sri Lanka but we have to abide by the ACC’s decision,” he added.
Bangladesh’s issues are not only limited to logistical challenges. With ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal having unretired, the question mark over his fitness still remains. Tamim yesterday said in an interview to local news outlets that a lot of things from the fallout of the retirement saga will now depend on his meeting with the cricket operations committee chairman Jalal once he returns to the country.
Jalal informed that Tamim wants to return to the country following his treatment in the UK by July 31, with the Asia Cup camp starting from July 29.
“Tamim will be going to London on the 26th. After his treatment there, a decision will be taken based on his condition. His plan is to return to the country by the 31st. The decision going forward will depend on his physical condition,” Jalal said regarding Tamim.
From the looks of the Emerging Asia Cup squad, where as many as six openers were lined up, the team management had been preparing for backup options for the opening slot. The performances of a few have already garnered attention of the team management and one or two players will be in the Asia Cup preliminary camp.
“Emerging squad players will be in the preliminary preparation camp. Many of them are doing well. One or two among them will be coming to the preliminary team but there is no certainty that they will make the best 15,” Jalal added.
The Bangla Tigers unit has also been undergoing camp in Chattogram but ultimately, Jalal informed that players getting the nod or being excluded will depend on the medical department as fitness takes precedence ahead of the World Cup.
