No room for excuses from Vaughan

Swapping Chittagong with its wide streets and air freshened by winds from the Bay of Bengal for the endless traffic jams and throat-choking pollution of Dhaka for three needless days makes no sense.

But tour operations manager Phil Neale said last night: 'It was felt that 13 days was too long to stay here at one stretch and that the best all-round practice facilities, with a gym and a pool, are in Dhaka.

' A man from the High Commission came down here last week to look at the hotel, but his tour did not include the kitchens. We have not dismissed the hotel completely but we need to see more.'

Chittagong, however, is clearly not impressed by England's whingeing. The local Press have covered up the accommodation issue by saying the practice match has been cancelled for security reasons.

The Agrabad's sales manager Shahed Chowdhury said: 'We were disappointed when South Africa complained to the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The hotel always does all we can to make guests as comfortable as possible.

'We blocked off all the rooms for England's stay and we are having difficulty selling them again for the time they will be back in Dhaka.'

England captain Michael Vaughan insisted he would be telling his players to blot out all the difficulties and concentrate on winning the Test series 2-0.

He said: 'In these conditions you have to get on with the cricket and not make excuses.

'In this part of the world there will always be excuses out there if you want them.'

Last night, as the players attended a sponsor's dinner, prepared at England's insistence by the same restaurant, Vaughan was still wrestling with the make-up of his team for the game.

He insists that his friendship with Ashley Giles will not affect his final decision on whether or not to stick with two spinners or play an extra paceman after the success of Steve Harmison in Dhaka.

Vaughan said: 'As a captain you try to pick your best team and the best to get 20 wickets in the match. Friendship and personalities do not come into selection.'

Bangladesh have made one change to their squad of 13. Teenage batsmen Aftab Ahmed, 12th man in their seven-wicket defeat in the first Test, has been released to play in an Under 19 tournament in Pakistan.

His place has been taken by Mohammad Moniruzzaman, who was the top run-scorer in Bangladesh domestic cricket last season.