The Bangladesh national cricket team departed for Sussex late last night to begin their preparatory camp for the Champions Trophy. They left at around 1:00am yesterday from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on an Emirates flight.

After spending a couple of weeks in Sussex, the Tigers will then go to Ireland to take part in a tri-nation series including New Zealand. They will play four matches there. The tri-nation competition does not have a final and the team with the most number of wins will end up winning the league.

After the Ireland series, they will travel to England to take part in the Champions Trophy. Prior to the start of the competition, they are scheduled to play warm-up games against India and Pakistan. The Tigers have been placed in a difficult group alongside Australia, New Zealand and hosts England. They will be part of the tournament opener with a game against the hosts on June 1.

Bangladesh ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza arrived almost half-an-hour after the rest of the team, but he was still greeted by throngs of fans and the media. PhotoS: STAR

An 18-member squad that left for the tour last night will take part in the camp and then go to Ireland for the tri-nation series. However, 15 players have been selected for the Champions Trophy. The three players who are in the squad for the Ireland series but not the Champions Trophy squad are Nasir Hossain, Nurul Hasan and Subashis Roy. While Nasir and Subashis will return from the United Kingdom after the Ireland series, Nurul will stay with the 15-member squad as a back-up wicketkeeper. He will be taken into the squad in case Mushfiqur Rahim gets injured.