Tigers begin SL camp today

The formal training camp for the tour of Sri Lanka will begin today at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

However, most of the Tigers returned to business from their breaks after playing the one-off Test match against India in Hyderabad much before the formal start of the three-day camp.

Many played the fourth-round matches of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), while others started training and gym practice individually.

The foreign coaching staff, except bowling coach Courtney Walsh, were expected to return last night.

“Everyone is expected to return today and hopefully everybody will be present on the first day of the camp. The camp will start with the fitness session under Mario [national team fitness trainer Mario Villavarayan] which will be followed by skill practice. The head coach [Chandika Hathurusingha] will definitely join the camp tomorrow but Walsh's arrival may be delayed,” informed national team manager Khaled Mahmud.

The selectors have already announced a 16-member squad for the two-match Test series but Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riyad will not join the camp as they will join the team in Sri Lanka from Dubai after their stints in the Pakistan Super League.

The Bangladesh team will fly to Colombo on February 27.

The tour will start with a two-day warm-up match and the first Test will commence from March 7 at Galle.

The second Test, Bangladesh's 100th, will start from March 15 at P Sara International Stadium and during the match selectors will announce the squad for the three-match ODI series.