Welcome to wet Dhaka

The pilot’s announcement that we would be landing in Dhaka shortly woke me up. Peering out of the window to catch an aerial view of the city, the element that dominated the landscape was water. The skies were grey and heavy and the numerous water-logged areas were impossible to miss.

It was raining when we stepped out of the plane. There had been regular showers over the last week and a weather website says “chance of precipitation is 100%” for three of the next five days, while it’s above 50% for the other two. Unlike New Delhi, where unseasonal rains have eased a scorching summer, the weather in Dhaka should surprise no one: it’s the beginning of the monsoon and one wonders why a cricket tournament was scheduled at such a time.

“Do you think we’ll have even one game?” asked a journalist after alighting. “No, we’re on holiday,” replied another.

There is a brighter side, though, and it is the drainage facility at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. There was plenty of rain ahead of a practice game on June 3 but the Bangladesh squad was able to get a full game in, and today, Pakistan were able to practice despite heavy showers.

The stadium, which also houses a furniture market, was buzzing with activity. If the drainage can hold, who knows, some of the Bangladesh players might make the IPL franchises wonder why those across the eastern border were overlooked.