Bangladesh Cricket Team to Train in Lahore Amid Political Unrest

Bangladesh's cricket team will travel to Pakistan ahead of schedule due to political turmoil at home. The team will hold practice sessions in Lahore before their two-test series against Pakistan. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled due to protests, with an interim government now leading. The team will train at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium.

Bangladesh will travel to Pakistan ahead of schedule to hold practice sessions in Lahore before their two-test bilateral series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said late on Saturday. Ongoing political turmoil in Bangladesh has disrupted the team's training, local media reported. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country following weeks of protests, with an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus taking charge.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board did not immediately reply to a request for comment on reports practice session has been disrupted by the unrest. "Originally scheduled to arrive on Aug. 17 in Islamabad, the Bangladesh team will now land in Lahore on the morning of Aug. 13," the PCB said in a statement.

BCB Chief Executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury thanked the PCB for opportunity to have additional training in Pakistan. "This will certainly help the players to acclimate to the conditions and prepare better for the ICC World Test Championship series," he said in the statement.

Bangladesh will train at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium for three days before travelling to Islamabad, with the first test scheduled to begin in nearby Rawalpindi on Aug. 21. The second test will be played in Karachi from Aug. 30.

(With inputs from agencies.)