The Bangladesh national cricket team will arrive in Sylhet this evening to begin the final phase of their preparation for the upcoming three-match T20I series against the Netherlands and the Asia Cup in the UAE.
The players are set to depart from Dhaka on a 7:30 pm flight, with the main training block to be conducted at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, as confirmed by a BCB official.
Prior to this, the squad underwent an intensive training programme in Dhaka, which included a 1600-metre time trial, gym sessions, acrobatic drills, running exercises, and skill-based training. They are scheduled to play two inter squad practice matches.
Sylhet was chosen as the primary venue for preparations and the Netherlands series due to its more suitable pitch conditions. The Mirpur surface, often described as slow and sluggish, was deemed inadequate for preparing for the Asia Cup, which will be held in the UAE.
The Netherlands team is expected to arrive in Bangladesh on August 26, with the T20Is scheduled for August 30, September 1, and September 3, all in Sylhet. After the conclusion of the series, the Bangladesh team will fly to the UAE for the continental tournament.
The final squad for the Netherlands series is yet to be announced. The selectors are expected to make their decisions based on player performances and fitness during this final training phase in Sylhet.
Bangladesh’s preliminary T20 squad: Liton Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Naim Sheikh, Soumya Sarkar, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shamim Patwari, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Tanvir Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahidul Islam Ankon and Saif Hasan.