The coronavirus epidemic, which is called as pandemic by World Health Organization, has affected the sports around the world and Bangladesh also faced the wrath. On Monday, the state minister of sports also asked to stop all sporting activities of the country as a precaution against the coronavirus. Here is a timeline that shows when and how the country’s sports are affected by the lethal virus till date.
February 16
Bangabandhu International Freestyle Stunt Cycling Competition’2020, which was scheduled to be held from February 27 to 29 in Dhaka with the participation of 25 countries, gets postponed, after a number of teams withdrew due to travel restrictions.February 17
The Bangladesh Archery Federation has announced the postponement of the ISSF International Solidarity Championships. The world ranking event was initially scheduled to be held in Dhaka for the fourth consecutive year on 22-28 February.
March 9
Bangladesh football team's next four 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup Round 2 Preliminary Joint Qualifiers are called off by the AFC and BFF due to coronavirus fears. The postponed matches are against Afghanistan (H) on March 26, India on June 4 (H), Oman on June 9 (H) and Qatar on March 31 (A).
The Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open 2020, the richest professional golf event in Bangladesh, was scheduled to be staged at the Kurmitola Golf Club in Dhaka from March 25-28, get postponed.
March 10
Country’s second-tier league, Bangladesh Championship League, deferred from March 28 to June 15.
March 11
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has decided to defer its plans to celebrate the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, due to rising concerns over Covid-19 in the country. Asia XI and Rest of the World XI matches get postponed.
March 12
9th Bangladesh Games comprising around 10,000 athletes in 31 disciplines, scheduled for April 1-10, get postponed to avoid risk among growing corona threats after WHO declared the virus as pandemic.
The final round of the Bangabandhu and Bangamata Gold Cup Primary School Football Tournament, scheduled to be held in Dhaka on Marche 13-21, get postponed.
March 16
All sorts of sports activities in Bangladesh have been postponed until March 31 as a precaution to combat the spread of coronavirus in the country, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Last phase of Bangladesh tour of Pakistan get postponed. Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League third round matches postponed until further decision.
Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) postponed all Bangladesh Premier League and Women’s Football League matches until March 31.
