Bangladesh cricket team returned to Dhaka on Sunday morning following a nightmare tour of New Zealand. Bangladesh had travelled to New Zealand in February with ambition to change their record against the host nation. But as it happened the tourists’ only achievement was clicking photos in picturesque locations as they were left humbled in the three ODIs and in as many T20Is thus extending the numbers to 32 matches – of not being able to win an international game against New Zealand on the home soil of the latter.
Left-arm pacer MustafizurRahman and team performance analyst Shrinivas Chandrasekaran took flight to India immediately after reaching Dhaka airport to join their respective team in the upcoming Indian Premier League T20. Mustafizur is set to feature for Rajasthan Royals in the money-spinning tournament scheduled to start on April 9.
The Bangladesh pacer will however will be unavailable for the first game, on Aril 12, as he will have to complete quarantine. Head coach Russell Domingo and fielding coach Ryan Cook took way to their families while rest of the squad returned home. Bangladesh ODI captain TamimIqbal and pacer Hasan Mahmud had returned home following the ODI series.
The pandemic came and marched on; as it lingered for more than a year the chance of domestic cricket taking place last season withered with that https://t.co/zCD9ltx0Q1
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Bangladesh’s tour of New Zealand was once again a repeat of the side’s failure in all departments. However, it was the below par fielding that had raised the most eyebrows. Bangladesh in the tour is believed to have the best opportunity of a win, in the second ODI. But catches dropped by wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim and off-spinner Sheikh MehediHasan and sloppy fielding had ruined the opportunity for Bangladesh.
Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed, who had his T20I debut in the tour, claimed ‘the clear sky’ of New Zealand as one of the reasons for Bangladesh’s failure in fielding.
“We had some problems in the fielding department. One of the reasons for our poor fielding was the clear sky of New Zealand and the other reason was the difference in weather. It's totally different in New Zealand and if we could do the camp for another 15 days then we could have improved a lot,” said Nasum at HazratShahjalal International Airport on Sunday.
New in the Bangladesh, Nasum also pointed out the difference in condition to be the biggest challenge for the touring side for its failure.
“I think we lack behind New Zealand in terms of the pitch as the pitch we have at home is totally different from New Zealand. The pitch back there favours the seamers but still, we tried our best,” said the 26-year old.
Bangladesh will now prepare for its tour of Sri Lanka for two-Test seriesthat are is of the ICC Test Championship. The squad is scheduled to travel to the island nation on April 12 but there are concerns whether the schedule will have an impact due to the rising concerns of Covid-19 cases in the country.
Mikel Oyarzabal scored the penalty that won Real Sociedad the delayed 2020 Copa del Rey on Saturday before dedicating their victory to the fans unable to attend an historic final against Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao https://t.co/1GKX16dNqj
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Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is yet to decide whether the national team will have a camp before it leaves for Sri Lanka. The board has already suspended the on-going National Cricket League (NCL) after the government on Saturday declared a seven-day lockdown starting Monday.
“Since the team arrived from New Zealand today (Sunday) we will discuss the issue over the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka with the government authorities and will inform further decisions,” said the BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury to the media.
