Teams begin a new Test era

Bangladesh begin a two-Test series in Pakistan today with their preparations severely hampered by the political turmoil that has wracked the country.

Unrest that led to the overthrow of prime minister Sheikh Hasina kept the team's foreign coaches indoors, strictly following advisories from their embassies, while mass protests stopped the team from assembling for practice sessions.

The make-up of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is also up in the air, after president Nazmul Hassan fled the country due to his association with Hasina.

Cricket and politics go hand-inhand in Bangladesh, but ace allrounder Shakib AI Hasan (above) - a member of the now-dissolved parliament for Hasina's partyis being allowed to feature in the Pakistan series by the interim government.