Cooch Behar, March 25: An Under-15 cricket team from Bangladesh arrived here today to take on the Bengal XI in a two-day match starting on March 27.

The match is being organised jointly by the District Sports Association (DSA) and the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). The pitch at the stadium adjacent to the palace here has been prepared under the supervision of the CAB’s team of curators.

“We are very excited as we have stepped into a foreign country for the first time to play a cricket match. We will rest today and go to the nets tomorrow morning,” said Nazeef Ahmed, the Bangladesh skipper after crossing the international border through the check-post at Changrabandha.

According to the DSA secretary, Ashis Sarkar, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi had played on this ground after being invited by the Cooch Behar royal family. “We will make this first international match here a grand success,” Sarkar said.

Bengal coach Satrajit Lahiri was impressed by the look of the pitch.

“It looks great for a good match and the ground, too, is beautiful. We are looking forward to Thursday’s match,” Lahiri added.