After arriving at the Redworth Hall Hotel, which will be home of the Tigers for the next one week, the first impression Habibul Bashar's men got was that they had entered a haunted house.

The enormous structure, erected way back in 1693, can be an artist's delight for its tranquil settings away from the maddening crowd. The imposing building with all modern facilities available also boasts some beautiful landscapes with some lush green gardens.

But this is not a place a cricketer would have liked most. The junior members of the team were so overawed by its calmness that they had decided to sleep together.

Senior members of the team were also not happy with where they would be staying. Most of them argued that it was not an ideal place for a cricketer to enjoy their off time.

"We would like to see a lot of people moving around a telephone booth just round the corner and a variety of sub-continental food shop," said a disgruntled Moha-mmad Rafique.

The players had to take a 20-minute ride on the team bus from the hotel to have their dinner in Darlington, the nearest town from the hotel.

And taxi driver Shaun Madder-son informed the Riverside ground itself is a 30-minute's drive from the hotel.

Team manager MA Latif said that he could feel the discomfort of the players but added that it was too late for him to shift his boys to more comfortable accomodation.

"The arrangements have been made much before and I'm afraid I can do nothing at the moment. I would have loved to have a hotel much closer to the ground," said the Bangladesh manager.

Coach Dav Whatmore is the only member of the team who has visited this place before. But he also hates his place.

"I was here before with the Sri Lankan team for a practice game and it was bloody cold here. It was in April and the temperature was below zero."

He was also quick to point out that he was having some problem with the hot water he was getting in his room.

Chester-le-Street is a very small city in Durham and you will not findmany people out on the streets and if you go alone for a walk after six in the evening it may give you the feeling that a ghost is accompanying you. There are also not many hotels here. However, there are a few pubs which are booked much ahead of the Test match.