Bangladesh is set to resume competitive cricket through a triangular 50-over domestic tournament.
The tournament has come as a positive sign in the sports community as the game will return to the field after almost six months of break due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The tournament is set to start Sunday, and the three teams will be led by Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah and Nazmul Hossain Shanto.
The final will be shown live on TV on October 23.
All the matches will be day-night affairs and will be played at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan claimed the tournament is one of the initiatives taken by the board to resume professional cricket in the country.
Tamim Iqbal plays a lofted shot as Liton Das looks on Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
“We are going to start the tournament from Sunday with three teams. This is part of our plan to resume cricket in the country and the cricketers have already played a couple of practice matches among themselves. We would want to include the maximum number of players in this one-day tournament. We have set condition that each player should get a chance to play at least two games as we have finalized the three teams [Tuesday]. We are also thinking of telecasting the final on TV along with live streaming for the other games through various platforms,” Nazmul explained to the media in Mirpur.
“These tournaments will be run as a test as we look forward to get cricket back to the field ensuring health safety. I couldn’t go to the ground [Tuesday] to meet the players as it will temper the bio-secure bubble and I was happy to hear that. We are actually trying to adapt to these things and if we can implement such things among our players, it will give them courage, which will increase our chances to host foreign teams in future,” the BCB boss added.
Nazmul informed that the board is planning to hold a Twenty20 tournament after the 50-over competition.
The T20 tournament is likely to be played in mid-November, involving five teams and a total of 75 players.
With the resumption of cricket in the country, curiosity is at large if professional leagues such as the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, National Cricket League and Bangladesh Premier League T20 would also resume soon.
Nazmul said in order for the Dhaka League to resume, all the participating clubs have to agree and maintain the health safety regulations.
Mustafizur Rahman bowls as Tamim watches on Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
This year’s Dhaka League got suspended after the first round of matches in March due to the pandemic.
“Problem could be to resume the Dhaka League. We want it to resume but first we need to know if the clubs are interested to play as the clubs will have to manage their players and if the clubs are not interested or unable to do that then we will need to know what should be done next,” said the BCB supremo.
“We need to know the health safety measures the clubs will take for the players. Whether the players will come to play the matches form their home or will the club arrange residential facilities. If the clubs can give me the heath security plan then I have no objection to resume the league. They [the clubs] are yet to inform me over that issue and there is no decision made in this regard,” he added.
The Bangladesh cricketers have played two two-day matches in a residential camp.
The cricketers have been allowed a four-day break during which they will visit their home.
The cricketers will report back to the residential camp Saturday for the triangular 50-over tournament.
Mushfiqur Rahim glides one towards the third man region Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
SQUADS
Mahmudullah XI
Mahmudullah (captain), Naim Sheikh, Liton Das, Mominul Haque, Mahmudul Hasan, Nurul Hasan, Sabbir Rahaman, Imrul Kayes, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Mehedi Miraz, Rakibul Hasan, Aminul Islam Biplob
Standby: Abu Haider, Sanjamul Islam, Hasan Murad
Nazmul XI
Nazmul Shanto (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hasan, Afif Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy, Irfan Sukkur, Parvez Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain, Abu Jayed, Muqidul Mugdho, Nayeem Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain
Standby: Sumon Khan, Shadman Islam, Tanvir Islam
Tamim XI
Tamim Iqbal (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Mithun, Shahadat Dipu, Yasir Ali, Akbar Ali, Anamul Haque, Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Khaled Ahmed, Shariful Islam, Mahadi Hasan, Taijul Islam, Minhajul Abedin Afridi
Standby: Shafiqul Islam, Mahidul Ankon, Mehedi Rana
Mosaddek Hossain watches intently as a beaver hovers around outside the boundary Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
FIXTURES
Oct 11 Mahmudullah XI v Nazmul XI
Oct 13 Mahmudullah XI v Tamim XI
Oct 15 Nazmul XI v Tamim XI
Oct 17 Mahmudullah XI v Nazmul XI
Oct 19 Mahmudullah XI v Tamim XI
Oct 21 Nazmul XI vs Tamim XI
Oct 23 Final
