Sunshine raises hopes

Amid all the discussion surrounding Australia's two-Test tour of Bangladesh -- the Aussies arriving tonight, Stuart MacGill not coming on as Bangladesh's spin-bowling coach, the uncertainty surrounding Mominul Haque and Mahmudullah Riyad's place in the squad, the state of the water-logged venue for Australia's practice match -- the most pleasing aspect was the brilliant sunshine that bathed the city yesterday.

It was pleasing to watch the Tigers do match-scenario drills under bright sunshine in Mirpur as cricket lovers have been praying for the rain to go away for the two-match series which is going to commence after much drama.  Australia will arrive tonight, but this was a tour that they had first cancelled in 2015 on security grounds and then kept the Tigers fans in suspense following a pay dispute between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association that threatened the tour.

Bangladesh cannot afford to miss Test matches in a time when they have just started to find their feet and begun to believe that they can win a Test against any opposition, especially in home conditions. So, when Australia arrive tonight, the Tigers and their fans will just hope that rain will not play spoilsport.

It has been 11 long years since Australia last visited this country for a Test series, when they won both Tests despite the Habibul Bashar-led side coming close to a seismic upset in the first Test in Fatullah. It is however believed that a different battle is awaiting the new-look Australians against a much improved home side -- no one on either side who played in 2006 will feature in the coming series.

The Aussies will start their tour with a two-day practice match but whether the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will be able to arrange the match at its scheduled venue of the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah remains uncertain.

Similarly, the identity of the person who will be the spin bowling coach instead of MacGill, after confirmation that the former Australian leg-spinner was reluctant to take up the role now, is also unclear.

Many have also been searching for confirmation on whether Mominul Haque will get the nod or if  Mahmudullah Riyad will make a comeback. Everything will be confirmed when the selectors announce the team tomorrow. 

The first Test will start from August 27 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur while the second Test starts from September 4 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.