Bangladesh's spin bowling coach, Mushtaq Ahmed, noted that experienced players, including former lawmaker Shakib Al Hasan, are playing a crucial role in helping the team stay focused on their upcoming Test series against Pakistan, despite the disruptions caused by political unrest at home.
"The players are mature and highly motivated," Mushtaq said during a press conference in Lahore on Thursday. "The team management is doing a great job, and senior players like Shakib are positively influencing the younger members."
The Bangladesh team arrived in Lahore on Tuesday, four days ahead of their original schedule, after protests in Bangladesh disrupted their training, leading to Prime Minister Hasina Wajid's resignation and the dissolution of parliament.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) arranged for Bangladesh to have an additional three days of training in Lahore before the first Test match in Rawalpindi, scheduled for next Wednesday. The second Test will be held in Karachi on August 30.
"All the stakeholders in Bangladesh are grateful for the PCB’s support," Mushtaq stated. "This gesture strengthens the relationship between PCB and Bangladesh, which is good for cricket."
Shakib, who served as a lawmaker in Hasina’s government, was selected for the series against Pakistan and was playing in a T20 league in Canada when Hasina stepped down earlier this month.
Mushtaq also highlighted the contributions of Mushfiqur Rahim, who missed the last home Test series against Sri Lanka, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, and fast bowler Taskin Ahmed. He praised them for their efforts in keeping the team focused on cricket despite the challenging circumstances.
"They're all playing important roles," Mushtaq said. "Their focus is now solely on cricket, and everything is going well. I credit the team management for this."
Mushtaq, who was appointed as the spin bowling coach in April before the T20 World Cup co-hosted by the United States and West Indies, emphasised the positive impact of the senior players on the team.