Just hours before Bangladesh’s inaugural T20I against the United Arab Emirates, young cricketers Rishad Hossain and Nahid Rana joined the national team after an unexpected three-day ordeal at Dubai International Airport.
The duo departed with the initial group of players on May 14 for the two-match T20I series. While the majority of the team passed through immigration without issues, Rishad and Nahid faced complications and were taken aside for document verification. This process extended over three days, during which the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) struggled to communicate with them. BCB media committee chairman Iftekhar Ahmed Mithu expressed the board’s confusion, stating that the players possessed valid visas issued from Bangladesh.
In an effort to resolve the situation, the BCB contacted both the Emirates Cricket Board and the Bangladesh High Commission in Dubai. Ultimately, the players were released around 2:30 AM local time on May 17, allowing them to finally leave the airport.
While the reasons for their extended detention are unclear, speculation suggests that their previous travel from Pakistan to Dubai might have contributed to the confusion. Earlier in the month, Rishad and Nahid had flown to the UAE through a special flight organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board due to security issues, returning to Bangladesh the following day. It’s believed there could have been documentation issues related to that transit, leading to their detention.
The unforeseen delay caused them to miss crucial training sessions, raising concerns about their preparedness for the series opener scheduled for May 18 in Sharjah. The team’s management will decide on their availability based on their physical and mental readiness.
Bangladesh is set to compete in a two-match T20I series against the UAE, with the second match taking place on May 20. This situation, while challenging, highlights the resilience of the players and the support system of the BCB, as they navigate through unexpected challenges in international play.