Tigers reach Oman for T20 World Cup preparation

DHAKA -Ending all speculations, Bangladesh finally reached Oman today to take a preparation for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup.

    Uncertainty loomed over Bangladesh's departure to Oman's city Muscat
after cyclone Shaheen hit the country hard.

   The Bangladesh squad took off from the Hazrat Shahjalal International
Airport at around 1:10am, more than two hours after their scheduled flight at
10:45 PM.

   Even though there was uncertainty over their departure, Bangladesh
contingent assembled in the airport on time. Once the uncertainty was
removed, they started their journey and reached Oman this morning and made it
to their team hotel at Muscat safely.

   A 21-member contingent including 14 cricketers left for Oman after being
returned negative in Covid-19 tests. Apart from 12 cricketers from the 15-
member world cup squad, pacer Rubel Hossain and leg-spinner Aminul Islam also
accompanied the team for only participating in the training camp in Muscat.

   Opener Liton Das however went to Muscat with his wife four days back while
ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman will join
the team in Abu Dhabi on October 9 after completing their IPL commitments.

   Bangladesh team is now maintaining a one-day room quarantine. They will
start their training tomorrow after which the Tigers will travel to Dubai to
take part in two official practice games on October 12 and 14 against Sri
Lanka and Ireland respectively.

   Mahmudullah Riyad and co then will return to Oman on October 15 to play in
the qualifier stage and will take on Scotland in their first qualifier game
on October 17.

   They will face off against Oman and Papua New Guinea on October 19 and 21.
If they can overcome the hurdle of the qualifying round, they will then
travel to UAE to play the Super 12s matches.

   The Tigers so far played 25 matches in the World Cup of this shortest
version of cricket and won just five-four of which came in the qualifying
round. They won only one match against West Indies in the tournament proper.

   Bangladesh cricket's first poster boy Mohammad Ashraful was the architect
of that six-wicket victory with a blitzkrieg 27 ball-61,that included seven
fours and three sixes. Aftab Ahmed also played his part with a brilliant 49
ball-62 not out.

   Since that landmark victory, a win continued to elude them as they remain
win-less in the 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016 World Cup.

   This time the responsibility of the team is in the hands of Mahmudullah
Riyad. With a bunch of young cricketers and having a wealth of experience in
Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar, Mustafizur Rahmand and Liton
Das, Bangladesh looked a team to beat any team in any kind of condition. But
still it will be a huge challenging matter, especially when their ability to
play well in the sporting wicket is utterly questionable.

   Squad: Mahmudullah Riyad (Captain), Naim Sheikh, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das,
Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shak
Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed,
Mohammad Saifuddin, Shamim Patwari. Stand by: Rubel Hossain, Aminul Islam Biplob. BSS