India-Bangladesh ODI series under cloud of washout; security increased amid nationwide shutdown

Indian cricketers jog during a practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday

According to weather reports emerging from Mirpur, the venue where India are slated to take on hosts Bangladesh for a 3-match ODI series, cricket will continue to be hostage to rain and there is a considerable chance that the entire series might get washed off. The Bangladesh Met Department has warned of possible showers and thunderstorms in Dhaka for the next one week.

There has been continuous heavy rainfall in the Bangladesh capital in the ongoing week, and the forecast is not good for the next 3 days and even till June 24 when the last match is to be played. All games (day/night) will be played in Mirpur at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.

All three ODIs have reserve days, but the skies are not expected to clear till another week, and so even this provision may be ineffectual. A possible compromise might be to have shortened games instead of full 50-over contests.

India’s one-off Test against Bangladesh was washed off amidst heavy rainfall in Fatullah. This was the first time in the country’s history a Test was being played in the month of June, the month of onset of heavy monsoon showers in the country.

However, according to sources, the Indian team is impressed with the facilities at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium. The stadium in Mirpur has a hover cover and is equipped with a better drainage system than the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah which hosted the one-off Test.

Bandh called by Islamist party; security around Indian team beefed up

Meanwhile, security around the Indian cricket team has been beefed up in the wake of a 24-hour nationwide shutdown on Wednesday called by political party Jamaat-e-Islami to protest the death penalty against war criminal Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed.

Paramilitary commandos have been deployed to watch over India team’s training sessions, and convoys of police and military personnel are seen with the team whenever travelling.

"The security around the Indian team and the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium has been beefed up in order to prevent any untoward incident," a BCB source said.