Tigers reach Colombo

The Bangladesh cricket team reached Colombo yesterday after a long journey from Trinidad & Tobago to take part in the ICC World Twenty20.
Mohammad Ashraful, who hit form in the quadrangular series in Trinidad and Tobago exuded confidence on arrival. “I feel I am hitting the ball well. I love Sri Lanka. I have some excellent memories of this country and I have been on every tour of this country since my international debut. I am really looking forward to the tournament,” he said.
Ruing the defeat against T&T in the last match, he said, “We should have beaten them. Batting second was a lot easier at Queen’s Park Oval as the bowlers found it difficult to grip the ball as there was dew.”
“Everybody is fine and there has been no sign of jetlag as a ten-hour stopover in Dubai helped them to recover from the tiredness,” Rabeed Imam, BCB’s media manager, informed the Daily Star Sport over phone from Colombo. “Everybody is fine and there has been no sign of jetlag as a ten-hour stopover in Dubai helped them to recover from the tiredness,” Rabeed Imam, BCB’s media manager, informed the Daily Star Sport over phone from Colombo.
Pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal didn’t play the last match against Trinidad, which the Tigers lost by four wickets, as they were rested due to minor injuries but Rabeed said that both are okay now.
“They are both okay and there is nothing to be worried about,” he added.
Mushfiqur Rahim’s men had a swimming session yesterday and are expected to undergo a full practice session in the afternoon today.
The Tigers will play two warm-up matches — against Zimbabwe on September 15 and Ireland on September 17 in Colombo before heading for Kandy.
Bangladesh has been placed in Group D along with New Zealand and Pakistan in the ICC World Twenty20. The Tigers will take on New Zealand on September 21 before meeting Pakistan on September 25. Both matches will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.