BCB yet to rule out touring Sri Lanka
Image : Collected
|| CF Correspondent ||
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said that they are still uncertain whether they will send their team to Sri Lanka or not for the forthcoming Test and T-20 series amid the concerns of the life-threatening coronavirus pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced Bangladesh to cancel three of their home and overseas series from April to June. The Tigers did not travel to Pakistan to play for one Test and as many ODI matches.
Even they neither traveled to Ireland nor England for the Ireland series nor saw Australia canceling their tour as well.
According to BCB officials, the board is contemplating a tour to Sri Lanka in August and taking the preparation thereafter.
BCB wants to travel to the island in August and stay there for 14-day quarantine and follow it with the preparation camp before taking on the islanders.
“We’ve heard about it (going to Sri Lanka in August) but nothing is finalised yet,” a member of the selection panel told daily sun on Tuesday.
“The tour is yet to be cancelled and we have already given a 37-member squad and whenever we will be asked we will shorten the squad accordingly,” he said.
“If we play Test, we will then prepare the squad for the longer version and if we are playing other formats we will prepare it accordingly,” he said pointing his fingers to the Asia Cup that is expected to be staged in Sri Lanka in the month of September.
The Board is in constant contact with the players and wants their opinions before making any final decision about the tour.
“We’re talking with the players, who will soon report to the board about their stances. But that is changing from time to time. It is changing,” said a top BCB official, seeking anonymity.
“The challenge of this situation will remain for another one or two years. So whenever the game starts, we have to face this challenge. My personal assessment is that in the current situation, if we want to start the game, playing in Sri Lanka would be the most ideal. If we want to send a team there, our only job is to prepare 20 players,” he said.
“Whether it’s an international game or a domestic event, there are a lot of accessories in organising these. From hotels, transport, venues, catering to many other things are connected with this. Ensuring this much in this current situation, is the toughest challenge while organising a game now in the country,” he said.
“In the current context, it is convenient to go out for a tour and play. If you want to get started and if you don’t want to play then it’s a different matter. This is an opportunity for us. Of course, the players will play. Now it is another matter if they are not 100 percent confident and ready. The unfit team cannot be sent there. Meanwhile, the current situation in the country is not in our favour also,” he concluded.
