New Zealand Cricket has requested Bangladesh Cricket Board to provide Covid-19 safety protocol similar to that was in place when Australia cricket team visited Dhaka earlier this month.
As a part of the safety protocol, the tourists have been discouraged to play the 20-over warm-up game ahead of the series opener.
The practice game was set to take place at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan in Savar.
BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury while speaking to the media Monday informed that the board is making effort to create a similar environment for New Zealand cricket team.
Australia had reached Dhaka on July 29 for a five-match T20I series, played between August 3 to 9.
The visitors had conceded a historic 4-1 defeat to hosts Bangladesh.
New Zealand cricket team are scheduled to reach Dhaka on August 24, and play the five T20Is against the host nation starting September 1.
“They have been requesting us to provide the same bio-bubble protocol that was in place for Australia. We will also try to create a similar environment. Like I have said before, the bio-bubble was not to keep only Australia or now New Zealand team safe, but our team too. Considering all the facts and practicality we will try to create a bio-bubble environment and complete this series successfully as well,” said Nizamuddin at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
However, there will be change in protocol at the airport in Dhaka.
Australia had reached Bangladesh on a chartered flight but New Zealand will be travelling on a commercial carrier.
The visitors will not play the warm-up that was scheduled to take place on September 1 at BKSP.
“New Zealand will be travelling to Dhaka on a commercial flight. So the protocol at the airport will not be same as Australia. Australia had travelled to Dhaka on a chartered flight. But we will make effort to minimize public contact with New Zealand team at the airport and transfer them quickly to the hotel. We are planning on it,” the BCB high-up explained.
“When we travel to another country, we look for facilities and practice match to get the team acclimatized with the foreign condition. Based on this, we had offered New Zealand a practice match [at BKSP]. But this will require an additional bio-bubble at the venue. So they are discouraging this and are pressing for limited movement in Dhaka and successfully complete the series,” he added.
Nizamuddin informed that considering the New Zealand local time and viewership they are thinking of starting the matches at 4pm Dhaka time.
The five matches will be played in Mirpur behind closed doors on September 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10 respectively.