The tour will get underway with the first T20I on January 24.
Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo is confident that his team would do well against Pakistan in the upcoming series amid the security concerns in the country, insisting the security would not be in the players’ mind during the upcoming tour later this month.
Earlier this month, the security concerns almost cancelled Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan but they finally agreed to play three T20 Internationals and one-off One Day Internationals and two Tests in the country in three legs under heavy security in the country.
The tour will get underway with the first T20I on January 24 in Lahore and the Tigers are expected to train amid heavy security, but Domingo insisted that would only strengthen the bond between the players rather than hamper preparations for the series.
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Domingo told reporters late Sunday (January 19) as the team started preparations for the tour, “I do not think it will be tough for the boys (to focus).”
He added, “When you are facing a bowler there is nothing else to think about except a ball or when you are bowling there is nothing else to think except landing the ball in the right area. It (the heavy security) can galvanize the team as well. It can get the team working together and connecting well.”
Meanwhile, Bangladesh will play T20Is in Lahore from January 24-27 before returning to Pakistan for the first Test from February 7-11 in Rawalpindi and then will visit again to solitary ODI in Karachi on April 3 and the second Test from April 5-9.
Domingo said of splitting the tour, “Where we go and when we go is not our decision. Obviously it would be nice to go once and finish in three weeks but they think it's best to do it in one-week blocks. I am fine with it.”
With several players and coaching staff refusing to travel Pakistan, Domingo found it easy to make the decision to visit the country, adding: “It was easy (to take the decision of going to Pakistan). I sign up to coach Bangladesh and that's what I want to do.”
Domingo signed off by saying, “I’m looking forward to going to Pakistan. I have never been there, so I am seeing a good challenge, good learning and a good adventure on how cricket works in that country.”
(With AFP Inputs)