BCB doubtful about home series against Australia
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|| CF Correspondent ||
Bangladesh Cricket Board official said on Tuesday that they are doubtful regarding the upcoming Test series against Australia, slated in June, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Though BCB and Cricket Australia is yet to take any decision regarding the upcoming home series comprising two Tests but as it stands chances looks very slim for that commence as per schedule considering the way everything stands out in the present world, that is passing through one of the biggest crisis due to the coronavirus effect.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic there is no cricket across the world and Bangladesh is no exception with BCB deciding to postpone all their activities until further notice.
Bangladesh has confirmed five deaths and 51 cases from Covid-19 while four more patients have recovered from the novel coronavirus which meant that a total of 15 patients have recovered so far in the country, despite everything Bangladesh Cricket Operation chairman Akram Khan insisted nothing is confirmed about it.
Earlier, BCB confirmed the itinerary of forthcoming two-match Test series against Australia, scheduled from June 11.
According to the iterinary, Australia will play a four-day practice match before the series opener at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong from June 11-15. The visitors will play the second Test in Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium from June 19-23.
‘’Yes it [home series against Australia] is doubtful,’’ Akram. We have not spoken with them [CA] in this regard but as things stand chances are very slim for the tour to proceed as per schedule,’’ Akram told Cricfrenzy on Tuesday.
While the Covid-19 pandemic has brought cricket around the world to a standstill, things are not too different for Australia for whom it's the off-season as they prepare to enter their annual six-week leave period from Thursday
Anything can happen in the day of Coronavirus, Australian Test skipper Tim Paine looks to know it very well and seems game for it.
According to Tim though he is focusing on their upcoming tour of Bangladesh comprising two Test matches in June, if it eventually postponed he won’t be surprised though the governing body Cricket Australia had not flagged changes to or the postponement of Paine’s side’s two-match tour of Bangladesh in June due to the pandemic.
‘’Personally, I am focused on Bangladesh and then India in Australia which will be huge, and then over in South Africa,’’ Paine told reporters via video conference before adding his doubts.
“There are bigger issues going on around the world right now,” he said.
“The whole situation at the moment is bigger than any sport,’’ he said.
“What’s important is that the world gets back on track and people around the world are healthy and living normal lives again.”
‘’Hope they don't push it back too far for my sake for sure. But yeah I think whether some series have been cancelled, whether one's going forward or going to continually be cancelled or we are going to postpone them and maybe players are going to go through a period where we play five weeks cricket if we want to complete the Test championships as it is at the moment,’’ he said.
‘’I think the players are certainly enjoying that points system and the fact that every Test match counts to something and you are playing towards a premiership if you like. I think all players will be in favour of trying to finish that in any way we can,’’ he said.
‘’But if it doesn't happen as I said there are bigger issues in the world and missing a few Test matches isn't going to hurt us,’’ he added.
Those changes could extend to cuts in a future pay deal, with the current agreement expiring in mid-2022.
Paine said players were not at that point yet but would “do our bit” when called on.
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