Dhaka is now base camp for four international cricket teams: Pakistan, England, Canada and, of course, Bangladesh. Bangladesh, Pakistan and England all held practice sessions at different times at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) in Mirpur yesterday, while Canada practised at Fatullah. All four teams are scheduled to play warm-up games in the country before the World Cup begins on February 19.
The Tigers today play their last practice match against neighbours Pakistan at the SBNS. The match, which starts at 2:30pm, will be their last chance to build on their dominant display against Canada in Chittagong on Saturday and push for a win against Pakistan, which will be the perfect tonic to take into the opening World Cup match against favourites India.
On a darker note, a vast majority of the team’s well wishers will not be able to see or even hear the match as it will not be broadcast on any television or radio channel, terrestrial or otherwise. The official broadcasters of the tournament, ESPNStar, are only broadcasting India’s warm-up matches, while BTV, the state-run terrestrial TV channel, did not even bid for the rights. Bangladesh Betar, on the other hand, had expressed interest but were discouraged by the high asking price for rights.
Paul Collingwood, Tim Bresnan, Matt Prior and Jonathan Trott from the England team took part in a press meet at Sheraton Hotel yesterday afternoon. All players were confident of their team’s chances and were looking forward to their warm-up matches against Canada on the 16th and Pakistan on the 18th, both to be held in Fatullah.
Meanwhile, the World Cup trophy was paraded through the city streets yesterday. The parade started from Mirpur and stopped at the Central Shaheed Minar, from where the trophy travelled the streets of the capital before finally coming to a rest at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS), where the performers for the opening ceremony due to take place on the 17th were rehearsing.
The BNS has undergone a spectacular facelift, with new entrances being made, and its walls being decorated with murals depicting the action from various sports that are played in Bangladesh, stressing the multi-purpose nature of the nation’s oldest sports venue.
Earlier, in the morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set the tone for a festive day by inaugurating the new-look venue amid much fanfare.
