Sports Desk:

Bangladesh national cricket team flew to Pakistan on 12 August, five days earlier than it was originally scheduled, after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) offered to host the Bangladesh players for extra days and provide all necessary training facilities ahead of the Test matches due to political unrest in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh team continued their training session at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Thursday. Spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed, while speaking during a press conference in Lahore, thanked PCB for making the arrangement calling the gesture a ‘brotherhood’ between the two boards.

“First PCB called Bangladesh Cricket Board, if things are not good in your country bring your team earlier, we will look after them. And that’s what is called a brotherhood, great relationship. The way PCB took this decision being proactive, we should give credit to them. And what I am thinking in my camp is that all the directors and stakeholders of BCB have really appreciated that,” Mushtaq told the media on Thursday.

“It was not possible to do practice there (in Mirpur). They (PCB) were the first people who called and said, bring your team here earlier, we can manage them. you know there were security issues, and issues with the pitches but PCB should be given this credit,” he added.

Mushtaq hoped that the two cricketing nations will continue this relationship in future and it will help the cricket grow stronger in both countries.

“I think this a great relationship between BCB and PCB, if they can keep looking after each other like that then I think cricket will grow stronger. And I think we can share our grassroots programs with Bangladesh, and Bangladesh is also thinking that there can be an exchange of programs, so I think that relationship is gonna go a long way. So, I think we should give great acknowledgement to PCB for taking that decision for BCB.”

The first Test of the series is slated to take place from 21-25 August in Rawalpindi while Karachi will host the second Test from 30 August to 3 September.