DEHRADUN DIARY
WALSH THE NET BOWLER
While training at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium nets yesterday, Bangladesh's batsmen were eager for a net bowler, the quality of whom most teams around the world could not call upon. Wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim said: "Master [interim head coach Courtney Walsh's nickname in the Bangladesh camp], I want you to bowl at me, let's see how your bowling is."
Sabbir Rahman joined in. "Courtney, I want you to bowl at me as well, let's see if you can get me out." The all-time great West Indian fast bowler however did not take up the challenge. "Oh no... I have a bit of pain in my legs, otherwise it would have been difficult for you to face me," Walsh replied with a gentle smile, sparing the Tigers his not-so-gentle bounce off a good length.
'LOOK AT OUR CAPTAIN'S DETERMINATION!'
On their second day of training at the RGICS yesterday, Bangladesh's T20I skipper flew in from Dhaka and went straight to the stadium from the Dehradun airport. Shakib Al Hasan was greeted by vice-captain Mahmudullah Riyad, who said: "Look who is here, have you seen the determination from our captain? This is called determination, he thinks about the team so much that he did not even go to the hotel from the airport and came here to see his team, wow!" Said in jest or not, as Shakib smilingly shook his vice-captain's hand, it was evident that the arrival of the team's best player and captain was a mood-lifter.
PLAYSTATION THE ONLY HOPE
Apart from travelling to and from training, it has been a monotonous two days for the Bangladesh contingent in Dehradun as the team hotel is situated far from the city centre and so there is little scope for recreation before or after training. But the junior members like Abu Hider, Abu Jayed, Mosaddek Hossain and Mehedi Hasan Miraz have their own entertainment with them -- namely the FIFA football game played on their PlayStation.
"It's been two days now we are here in Dehradun and there is nothing much near our hotel, so luckily I brought my PlayStation and this has been the only way to enjoy our leisure time," said left-arm seamer Hider.
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