The Bangladesh cricket team flew into Chittagong yesterday amidst tight security to play their two Group B matches of the ICC Cricket World Cup at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Friday and next Monday.
The security was beefed up following some sporadic incidents which took place after the Tigers’ meek surrender against West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Friday.
For security reasons the Bangladesh team boarded into a different coach instead of the regular bus while on their way to the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from Hotel Sheraton.
Understandably the cricketers were in a sombre mood on Saturday after the heartbreaking nine-wicket defeat to the West Indies and they kept firmly to their hotel rooms before leaving Dhaka.
The Tigers hit their lowest ODI total in the match when they were bundled out for just 58 runs.
The defeat made the equation difficult for Shakib Al Hasan’s men as they now have to win at least two out of their three remaining group matches to have a chance of a quarterfinals berth.
Following the England game on March 11 and the Netherlands clash on March 14 the Tigers will return to Dhaka to play their last Group B match against South Africa on March 19 at Mirpur.
Like millions of cricket fans in the country, the high-ups of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) were also shell shocked by the humiliating defeat at the hands of West Indies team but they stated that they have full confidence and faith on the team.
But the game’s governing body in the country was left in a spot of bother through the actions of bowling coach Ian Pont, who made some comments to one of the most well-known online cricket portal as well as providing them with a picture of the stoning incident from yesterday. His actions supposedly raised many eyebrows.
Courtesy of The Daily Star