Bangladesh cricket team left for the United Arab Emirates Tuesday evening to participate in the six-team Asia Cup Twenty20 2022 set to begin this Saturday.
However, two out of the 16 players, fast bowler Taskin Ahmed and right-handed batter Anamul Haque could not travel with the team due to delay in obtaining visa.
According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board logistic team the visas for the two cricketers are likely to be obtained Wednesday and that the duo will immediately take the flight to Dubai.
The visas for the participating teams in the tournament are being arranged by the Asian Cricket Council.
As it has been for past few years, the entry point of the international terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport was crowded with enthusiastic Bangladesh supporters who came to see off the team.
There was heavy presence of media too expecting Bangladesh T20I captain Shakib al Hasan to speak before departure.
However, as it happened, star all-rounder Shakib entered the airport through the VIP entrance in order to avoid the interaction with the crowd.
Bangladesh have headed to the multi-nation tournament amid major changes in the dressing room.
First was the change in T20I captaincy from Mahmudullah to Shakib and then the board decided that Russell Domingo will guide the national team in Tests and One-Day Internationals only going forward.
The charge of the T20I team has been handed to the newly appointed technical consultant Sridharan Sriram.
Former Indian cricketer Sriram is not the head coach but will guide Bangladesh in major events in the form of the Asia Cup T20 later this month and the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia in October-November.
Bangladesh team in Dubai will have their first practice session at the ICC Academy nets Thursday.
The six-nation Asia Cup will raise its curtain with the Group B match between Afghanistan and hosts Sri Lanka at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh, also in Group B, will begin their campaign against Afghanistan next Tuesday at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
In the second group phase game, Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka on September 1 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
India, Pakistan and a Qualifier have been set to battle in Group A.
The top two teams from each group will proceed to the second phase of the tournament - Super Four round.
The top two teams in the Super Four points table will play the tournament finale at Dubai International Stadium on September 11.
