They will have a short turnaround after their New Zealand series
The Bangladesh team will get a short turnaround from their New Zealand tour after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said that they are likely to travel to Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series any time between April 12 and 15. Bangladesh play their last match in New Zealand on April 1, after which those who will play the Tests would have to hop into another bio-secure bubble within two weeks.
“We have contacted the Sri Lanka board,” BCB’s chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said. “We have confirmed two Tests in the World Test Championships, both of which will be played in the same venue. We are hopeful that Bangladesh will tour Sri Lanka any time between April 12 and 15.” The two boards seem to have agreed to reduce one Test from the original three-match Test series, that was postponed twice last year.
Chowdhury said that the Bangladesh team will follow England’s quarantine protocols when they toured Sri Lanka earlier this year. “As far as we know, Sri Lanka’s Covid situation has improved. England also toured Sri Lanka recently. We have been told that we will follow the same protocols as England did,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Friday, BCB’s cricket operations chairman Akram Khan said that Mustafizur Rahman, who was acquired by Rajasthan Royals for the 2021 IPL, will also be allowed time off from the Sri Lanka Test series next month.
“If he applies for the NOC, the BCB will give it to him, just like we gave it to Shakib. There’s no need to deny it to anyone who is not interested to play in Tests,” said Akram.