Bangladesh unhappy with practice facilities at SSC

Bangladesh cricket team touring Colombo for the Nidahas T20I tri-nation series were denied from training Monday due to below-standard practice facilities. The Tigers had the day off following their historic five-wicket win over host Sri Lanka Saturday in Colombo’s R Premadasa Cricket Stadium. Monday afternoon, the Bangladesh players had come to the practice nets at Sinhalese Sports Club only to find out below-par wickets. And thus, the Tigers opted not to have any practice. According to Bangladesh team manager Khaled Mahmud, the players could have gotten injured on the wickets provided for the practice session, and hence, the management did not want the players to train. The curators at SSC could not work and the wickets were kept covered due to consistent rain in Colombo. "Bangladesh had practice sessions here (SSC) in the past but the wicket is not upto the mark. The wickets are nowhere near to that we will have in the match. Anybody can get injured here and we did not want to take the risk," said Mahmud to the media while departing from SSC.

Snaps of Bangladesh team practice session today at Sinhalese Sports Club. pic.twitter.com/vxGMZrusN2

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) March 12, 2018

According to the former Bangladesh captain-cum-BCB director Mahmud, Bangladesh have duly informed of the under-par facilities to Sri Lanka Cricket. "We are a bit unhappy to be honest. We wanted to practise at R Premadasa, if not here (SSC), but that did not happen. It’s raining consistently for which the wickets are covered and the curator could not work on it. So we were left with no option," said Mahmud. "We have informed this to the SLC. They informed that the groundsmen could not prepare the wickets due to rain," he added. Bangladesh Monday planned for an optional practice session with opener Tamim Iqbal, pacer Taskin Ahmed, youngster Mehedi Hasan Miraz and batsman Liton Das rested. The Tigers, who are boosted with confidence following their memorable win against the Lankans, will take on India in the second phase of the tri-series Wednesday at R Premadasa.