England assistant coach Paul Farbrace backs decision to tour Bangladesh
Sunday 2 October 2016 11:49, UK
England assistant coach Paul Farbrace has no doubt the decision to tour Bangladesh is the right one.
Three months before England arrived in the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka, a terrorist attack in an area of the city popular with western visitors saw 29 people killed and placed the trip in serious doubt amid fears of further incidents.
Reg Dickason, the England and Wales Cricket Board's security advisor, subsequently gave the tour the go-ahead after a fact finding mission in the sub-continent, although one-day captain Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales opted not to travel over safety concerns.
England landed in Dhaka amid a strong security presence on Friday and their team hotel is heavily fortified by armed guards both inside and outside the complex, but Farbrace insists their presence does not feel unduly oppressive.
"In terms of coming to places like this, I don't think it's been any different from what I expected it to be and what it's been before," said Farbrace.
"A lot has been made about the problems they had and the attacks earlier in the year but once Reg had given his okay then you've got to trust him.
"That's his job and you've got to trust him to do his job and then it's up to us to do ours once he gives it the green light."
Farbrace, who was part of the Sri Lanka coaching staff when their team coach was shot at by terrorists in Pakistan seven years ago, feels the tour has so far progressed like any other.
"To be honest it's been no different to the last time we were here," he added. "Round the hotel it's not in your face security. I think it's been fine so far."
As for the cricket itself, Farbrace - currently leading the team in the absence of head coach Trevor Bayliss, who is expected to arrive in Dhaka on Sunday night after experiencing visa issues - is not expecting an easy ride against their hosts.
The Tigers knocked England out of the World Cup last year and Farbrace believes they have improved greatly in the two years since former Sri Lanka all-rounder Chandika Hathurusingha took over as coach.
"Since he's been here I think they've improved massively," said Farbrace.
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"You can see the way that he's got them playing, they're a lot more thoughtful in the way they play, [where] in the past they've been a little bit reckless.
"I think they are a very consistent team and we found out in that last World Cup that they're a massively improved side.
"They're a lot more consistent in the way that they play. I think there will be a few of our younger ones who'll be quite surprised by the standard that they're up against. They might not admit it but I think they will be surprised."
Watch the opening ODI between Bangladesh and England on Friday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 2 HD at 9am.
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