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BCB defends advance trip

Second warm-up rained off

SPORTS REPORTER
Cricket
Heavy rain washed out Bangladesh's second practice match in Colombo yesterday.
Habibul Bashar's men were hoping to play against a strong Sri Lanka Invitational Eleven but showers throughout the morning meant the match had to be abandoned without a ball being bowled.
The Tigers had beaten the same selection by 29 runs on July 6 in their only warm-up game since reaching the island on July 1 to prepare for the Asia Cup that begins Friday.
They have another practice match scheduled day after tomorrow before they take on Hong Kong in their first game of the Asia Cup on July 16.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) advisor Mahbub Anam, who is also the head of the newly formed cricket operations committee, told the Daily Star Sport yesterday that the team management could try to squeeze in another practice game before the tournament proper to make up for the
washed-out fixture.
Anam also touched on the issue of sending the team to Sri Lanka fifteen days ahead of the tournament , which many feel, was a misuse of funds. He also dismissed allegations of excessive expenditure by the Board for the advance trip.
"It will hardly cost the BCB US$ 5,000 for the additional stay which comes down to around Tk 3 lakhs and it is not the 20-22 lakh taka people are talking about. Considering the benefits in terms of preparation and acclimatisation, do you think this is a huge amount being spent?" asked Anam.
"The ACC is covering the air fare for all the squads. The players are sharing rooms and the Sri Lankan Cricket Board is also providing certain discounts. Had it been here, we would have been paying for training at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP), food and lodging for a number of players too."
He added that going to Sri Lanka early has done a world of good for the squad as they had some sunny
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days to train outdoors which would have been impossible during the ongoing rainy season at home.
"The boys have had regular indoor and outdoor practice including the much-needed net sessions in Colombo. They have also played one practice match which would been very difficult to arrange at home given the weather pattern," said Anam.
In the Asia Cup, Bangladesh have been pitted in Group A along with reigning champions Pakistan and Hong Kong. Group B comprises India, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).