- REUTERS
Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar (left) and bowler Harbajan Singh chat as Singh gets ready to bowl during a practice session in Chittagong yesterday. The second Test between Bangladesh and India begins tomorrow.
CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh (AP):
THE BANGLADESH and Indian cricket teams were busy practising yesterday at a heavily-guarded stadium in this southeastern city.
A 15-member Indian team, led by Sourav Ganguly, arrived early yesterday in Chittagong from Dhaka, the national capital 217 kilometres (135 miles) to the northwest. They were accompanied by a 14-member Bangladesh team, led by Habibul Bashar.
Extra security measures were in place for the Indian team, following death threats from a little-known Islamic group ahead of the tour that began on December 8 in Dhaka.
Bangladeshi authorities termed the threat a hoax and the Indians continued the tour after a security team reviewed security arrangements.
Police cordoned off the route from the airport to the team's hotel, and from the hotel to the downtown stadium as the Indian players arrived.
Armed police and paramilitary troops have been on duty since Tuesday at the M.A. Aziz Stadium, where the second Test begins tomorrow, a day later than scheduled, Chittagong police official Mohammad Amjad Hossain said.
Security cameras and metal detectors have been installed at the venue, and fans would be frisked at entrances during the match. An anti-bomb squad would be on stand-by.
PREMISES CHECKED
Security experts also checked the hotel premises where the players would be staying, Hossain said.
India won the first Test in Dhaka by an innings and 140 runs, with almost two days to spare.
"That's history ... now we are looking forward and trying to improve our individual performance, especially of the batsmen," Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore said.
On the other hand, India want another victory in the port city.
"We just want to win. It may be a tough one, but we want that," India's coach, John Wright, said.
The first of three limited-overs matches will also be played here next Thursday.
