Bangladesh to be busiest side in new FTP cycle, gets 34 Tests, 59 ODIs and 57 T20Is

Bangladesh cricket team will play a total of 34 Tests, 59 ODIs and 57 T20Is in the 2023-2027 cycle of the International Cricket Council Future Tours Program.

ICC Wednesday announced Bangladesh’s FTP for the period 2023-27. 

ICC claimed the occasion of Bangladesh playing all Full Members in the upcoming cycle is a result of a collective effort, alongside assistance from ICC who ensured certainty of cricket fixtures with the confirmation of all bilateral series across the three formats.

The exact dates of the series are for the Members to announce in due course.

Bangladesh make a tour of Ireland in June 2023, which will be followed by a home series of two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is against Afghanistan in June.

The Tigers also have a busy calendar in 2024 during which they host Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from February to April and then play Afghanistan, Pakistan and India in away Tests mid-year. 

A home Test series against South Africa and an away full tour of the West Indies (two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is) are part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25, while the 2025-27 WTC finishes off for Bangladesh with a challenging home series against England and an away series in Australia.

“The 2023-2027 FTP is very pleasing for Bangladesh. We have received a healthy share of matches against members across formats. This FTP is also a credit to the efforts of the ICC scheduling team and the member Boards and the cooperation between the stakeholders,” BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said in the ICC press release.

“The BCB believes that the FTP should be based on the principle of fair distribution of matches for all teams and from that aspect, we are happy that the new FTP promises us a greater number of days of international cricket compared to the previous cycle. We have been emphasizing on the importance of playing more international cricket in order to attain the desired standards and the ICC FTP 2023-2027 gives ample opportunity to our players to compete regularly at a high level which will be most beneficial for individual and collective improvement,” the BCB high-up added.

As a part of the WTC, Bangladesh will play New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka at home in the 2023-25 cycle and tour India, Pakistan and the West Indies.

In the 2025-27 cycle, the Tigers play England, Pakistan and the West Indies at home and have away series scheduled in Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

The announcement of the men's FTP from the ICC came a day after the first ever women's FTP was revealed.