Bangladesh Cricket Board has changed its stance with regards to resuming cricket in the country amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The regulatory body of cricket in the country was vocal about getting the game back to the field through domestic competition, which would give the national team players match practice before heading into an international series.
That stance however, has changed.
The board now plans to get the game, that has remained suspended since March this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, rolling on the field through an international series – a likely tour of Sri Lanka in September for a three-match Test series, part of the World Test Championship.
BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury while explaining the change of plans to the media termed the other countries as example.
The West Indies currently touring England for the three-Test series did not have match preparation but a sort of conditional camp in the United Kingdom before going into the series.
Pakistan have also taken a similar approach, having already reached England for their series, comprising three Tests and as many T20Is.
Following their 14-day mandatory quarantine, Pakistan are practicing and playing matches among themselves.
“Though our cricketers have been away from cricket for a long time now, most countries who are playing cricket now have not taken match preparation at home. It is not necessary that one has to start by playing domestic cricket,” Nizamuddin was quoted as saying in a media report Friday.
If Bangladesh tour Sri Lanka, they will not have to go through the 14-day quarantine and will instead have a camp before the series that was originally scheduled for July-August.
The change in stance by cricket’s governing body in the country has been driven from the fact that it would be challenging to arrange a domestic tournament at this point of time, given the situation Bangladesh is in.
Although people in this country are slowly returning to normal livelihood, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are still fierce.
Based on this, BCB would only think about bringing the game back to the field if it thinks enough measures have been put in place, and that it can take the liability of the cricketers.
“It is easier for us to resume playing in another country than at home. A lot is to be done if we want to have a domestic tournament now. We will have to face challenges, like the scenario of the pandemic in our country, whether we will be able to have a controlled environment, there are many things like this that we will have to first see,” said the BCB high-up.
