England Cricket Team's Tour in Bangladesh 2003-04

England Team received a warm welcome in Bangladesh when they arrived at Dhaka on 8th October. Continuous rain for a couple of days in last week made Dhaka's Bangabandhu Stadium, the venue for England's tour opener and the practice ground – remain under flooded tarpaulins. England Team was given the option of indoor training at the national sports institute (BKSP) - a 75 minute bus ride from the Hotel and they obliged. England Team members felt that the facilities was barely adequate but surprisingly they remained calm and they had no complains. The local journalists thought that everyone of the team was very courteous to their host understanding and expecting not much. But they also thought some mismangements could have been avoided if BCB looked into it seriously.

Unlike several tours in the 1990s when England were roundly condemned for shutting out the realities of life in poorer countries, this time the PR machine is in full swing, with visits to a hospital and an orphanage on the agenda.

Yesterday England could start their warm up match (3 dayer) after five hours of mopping-up of the field. The result at the close of play:

England 106 for 1 (Trescothick 49*, Vaughan 36) v Bangladesh Board President's XII

The match has been rearranged as a 12-a-side affair to allow maximum practice for all concerned. The game would be stripped of its first-class status.