|| CF Correspondent ||

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) formally is yet to announce the schedule of Bangladesh Team’s upcoming tour in Sri Lanka for the three-match Test series.

The SLC has no hurry, having enough time in hand to announce the schedule for the series. But the schedule the two boards have kept their discussion so far in that case, Bangladesh are supposed to tour on September 27.

Conditioning camp in Colombo

It’s learnt from the BCB and SLC complete schedule that Bangladesh National Team and BCB-High Performance (HP) Team are slated to fly for Colombo on September 27. The BCB seeks that the team can start their cricketing activities if players, coaching staff and officials tested negative after landing in Sri Lanka.

A schedule has been prepared on the basis of the discussions between the two boards. As per the schedule, it is seen that the SLC is going to fulfill the wishes of the BCB. If there remains no problem of COVID-19, Bangladesh could start their practice under the biosecurity bubbles just a day after their arrival in Sri Lanka.

October 3 will be a rest day after having practiced five consecutive days from September 28 to October 2. The National Team and HP Team will play their first three-day practice match in between October 4-6.

They will enjoy a day of rest on October 7. They will hence play their second ‘three-day’ practice match in Colombo on October 10-12 after having practiced on two successive days (September 8-9).

HP team will be separated from the Mominul-Mushfiq-Tamim’s team in the aftermath of the two-week-long conditioning camp. It’s learnt from the BCB sources that a total of 24 players are slated to travel to Sri Lanka for HP whose most of the players will not get a chance to play a practice match.

Head coach Russell Domingo seeks only four to six players from the HP squad. On the other hand, there are 20 players for the national team. The bulk of the HP players have to pass their time in the conditioning camp for the interest of the national team.

Hospitality of the SLC starts from October 14

Bangladesh National Team and High Performance team will go under the Hospitality of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) from October 14. But the BCB has to shoulder all the expenses of the entire management of the two-week-long conditioning camp. Bangladesh will get a chance to play a warm-up practice match with the local team. The three-dayer, one-off practice will be played in Colombo in October 17-19.

The practice matches (three) Bangladesh will play in Colombo will start at 10:00am (local time).

First two Tests in Kandy

Even though Mominul and company take their whole preparation in Colombo, they have to give their tests in Kandy. The hosts prepared such a fixture to keep the tourists in tether about the wickets and conditions in the initial two Tests. Of course, it’s nothing new in cricket. The host cricket board did not give enough time to the opposition side to have practiced in the Test venue.

Bangladesh will travel to Kandy from Colombo on October 20, three days before the outset of the tour opener. Mushfiqur-Tamim-Mominul will practice on October 21 and 22 in the Test venue. The first Test will kick off October 23.