New era for Bangladesh and Pakistan ahead of first Test

Karachi: Bangladesh begin a two Test series in Pakistan this week with their preparations severely hampered by the political turmoil that has wracked...

Karachi: Bangladesh begin a two-Test series in Pakistan this week with their preparations severely hampered by the political turmoil that has wracked the country.

Unrest that led to the overthrow of prime minister Sheikh Hasina kept the team’s foreign coaches indoors, strictly following advisories from their embassies, while mass protests stopped the team from assembling for practice sessions.

The make-up of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is also up in the air, after president Nazmul Hassan fled the country due to his association with Hasina.

Cricket and politics go hand-in-hand in Bangladesh, but ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan -- a member of the now-dissolved parliament for Hasina’s party -- is being allowed to feature in the Pakistan series by the interim government. 

“Because of the situation it was not possible to practice,” spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed told reporters.