Reigning champions Bangladesh cricket team are afraid that the bad weather could play a big role in their defense of the men’s 17th Asian Games cricket gold medal.
Bangladesh will open their campaign on Wednesday against Kuwait, who were through to the quarter-finals on Monday by the toss of a coin over the Maldives after a steady rain made it impossible to start the match.
Without a ball being bowled, Kuwait captain Mahmoud Bastaki correctly called heads at the Yeonhui Cricket Ground to give Kuwait their first win of the competition.
The rare coin-toss episodes entertained everyone present at the ground, but away at the Games village, Bangladesh, only one of the two Test-playing countries to participate, were not amused.
The incident and heavy downpour for the last couple of days have left the Tigers extremely frustrated as they had to skip their scheduled practice session on Monday.
Instead of the planned training session at the Songdo LNG cricket ground, Bangladesh had to remain contented with some light physical exercise at the Games village gymnasium.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board media and communication chairman, Jalal Yunus, who is also acting as the manager of the team in the Asiad, was sacred with the weather conditions.
‘We are really worried,’ Jalal told New Age on Monday at Incheon. ‘Rain have already spoiled our practice sessions and we really do not know whether it is going to take its toll in our matches or not.’
‘It will be really unfortunate if our fate is decided on a coin-toss. If the match is decided in such manner then what is the use of coming over here,’ added Jalal.
Bangladesh are expected to complete their last practice session today after witnessing the match of Sri Lanka, their most likely opponent in the semi-final, who will play against minnows Nepal.
-With New Age input
