Under the clear skies in Rajkot
The Bangladesh T20I squad reached their next destination, Rajkot, on the tour of India yesterday afternoon, and their good spirits were not just down to having notched their first T20I win over India in New Delhi the previous day. Some players remarked upon how nice it was to see the sky for the first time since getting off the plane in Delhi on October 31. Pollution in the Indian capital only intensified in the lead-up to Sunday’s first T20I, which India and Bangladesh contested in conditions that were well past hazardous levels.
But atmospheric hazards seem to be following the Tigers as the Indian Meteorological Department announced yesterday that Cyclone Maha will make landfall in Gujarat on the night of November 6 and the early morning of November 7, the day of the second T20I in Rajkot. While that may be seen as good news by Bangladesh supporters as an abandonment would mean that the Tigers will not lose the three-match series, the players themselves were eager to play the match to keep the focus on cricket after unsavoury off-field issues like Shakib Al Hasan’s ban and the players’ strike before the tour.
They may get their wish as the cyclone is forecast to reduce in intensity after November 5, so Mahmudullah Riyad’s troops will be making sure they are prepared for India’s reply in sleepy Rajkot.
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