Despite the national team enjoying a period of rest following their recent home series against Pakistan, the Bangladesh ‘A’ team and High Performance (HP) Unit are in the middle of a crucial preparation phase at the Bir Sreshtho Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram. However, persistent rain and limited indoor facilities have significantly disrupted their training schedule.
The build-up is aimed at the upcoming Top End T20 Series, organised by Australia’s Northern Territory Cricket and set to begin on 14 August in Darwin. Bangladesh will be represented this time by the ‘A’ team, having fielded the HP Unit in the previous edition.
Yet, adequate match practice has been hard to come by. Sources within the team confirmed that ongoing renovations to the indoor facility, specifically, the installation of new turf wickets, have left both squads with limited training alternatives during the rain-hit period.
“It’s frustrating,” said an HP Unit official on condition of anonymity. “It’s disappointing that such a large stadium has only one indoor facility. We trained there for a month, but now with the renovation work, we can’t use it. That’s a blow for both the HP Unit and the ‘A’ team.”
The HP camp in Chattogram began on 10 June, with the second phase of training commencing on 16 July and scheduled to run until 13 August. According to sources, the players have only managed 10 to 12 full sessions on the main ground over the past six weeks. The rest of the time has been spent focusing on skill-specific drills and fitness work.
A partial solution is on the horizon, with three T20 matches scheduled between the HP Unit and the ‘A’ team on 1, 3, and 5 August. These fixtures are intended to sharpen the ‘A’ team’s readiness before their departure for Australia.
Still, coaching staff admit the lack of consistent match exposure could leave the ‘A’ team undercooked heading into the Top End tournament. With limited access to indoor facilities and a rain-disrupted training block, Bangladesh’s second-string cricketers may find themselves short of ideal preparation ahead of overseas competition.