BCB to decide Sri Lanka tour's fate by this week
Image : Collected
|| CF Correspondent ||
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will come to a final decision on the subject of the fate of their next tour in Sri Lanka within this week.
BCB had postponed their last phase tour to Pakistan coupled with its Ireland tour due to the coronavirus pandemic. The series Australia had in Bangladesh in June which was also postponed by Cricket Australia (CA).
As of now, the fate of the Sri Lanka tour is also pending whether it will postpone or will proceed on. While there are rumours that the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has made an offer to reschedule the matches to September instead of July.
Even they have proposed to bring a change in formats, where they want to make it two Tests and two T20I in the hope of extra revenue instead of three- match Test series which is also a part of the ICC Test Championship.
But dismissing all rumours, BCB Chief Executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said that BCB had not received any such proposal from Sri Lanka.
He also said the decision about the tour will be finalized within the next week.
“We’re still discussing with the Sri Lankan board whether the series can be held in July. We’re trying to understand its advantages and disadvantages. But whatever the decision on the Sri Lanka tour, it will be finalized within the next week,” said Nizamuddin.
“If the series takes place, both the teams will then have to prepare themselves and Sri Lanka will have to take other preparations as the host. That is why there is no chance to be late,” Chowdhury said to a Bengali daily.
Nizamuddin also said that the BCB officials will hold a meeting via video conference in the next couple of days to take a final decision on the Sri Lanka tour.
It’s learnt from the close sources of the BCB that some pre-negotiations have already taken place and there are pros and cons for the July tour of Sri Lanka.
But the BCB chief executive, however, said that cricketers’ views would be taken into account before making a final decision.
Assuming that the series is going to be held other arrangements are being put forward. The selectors are preparing for the team selection. In the end, if the tour happens then 20 or more cricketers may be called up for the preparation camp.
A few days ago, England announced a 55-member squad for their preparation camp. The West Indies are also taking 25 cricketers on a tour of England. Selector Habibul Bashar hinted that Bangladesh could move in the same direction,
“The practice is a little different now. That’s why everyone is announcing a big team. We are also thinking of doing something like that while talking with the coaches and management,” Bashar said.
BCB chief physician Debashish Chowdhury said that they are planning to keep the players and coaching staff separate for a certain period of time once the decision of the Sri Lanka tour is finalized.
“Cricketers and coaching staff will be kept in a bio-safe place before going to play the series. Otherwise, the country we’ll tour they will also not accept,” he said.
