Soldiers on the pitch mark war games in Bangladesh ahead of England tie

Bangladesh commandos participate in a mock war game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. Pic/AFP

Dhaka: Bangladeshi army commandos abseiled into the national stadium yesterday in a show of strength designed to reassure England's cricketers over their security on the eve of the opening ODI of their controversial tour. More than a dozen commandos scaled down ropes from helicopters hovering over the nets at Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, which is hosting the first two games in a three-match series beginning tonight.

'Security has been great'
The side is being skippered by Jos Buttler after regular one-day captain Eoin Morgan decided not to go on the tour in the wake of an attack by jihadists earlier this year on a café full of foreigners. Twenty-two people were killed in July's assault on the Holey Artisan Cafe in Dhaka's upmarket Gulshan district, casting doubt over whether Bangladesh's security forces could guarantee the England team's safety. Buttler insisted there had been no sense of unease among the players since they had arrived last weekend.

"Everything has been in good order. Travel to and from the ground has been great for us although I'm sure it's been a bit frustrating for the locals," he said in reference to road closures ordered on security grounds.

"Security has been great so far, I think the guys within the group haven't even mentioned it. That's fantastic for us as the guys in the group are very settled and focused on cricket," he added.