Having returned from a long tour of Sri Lanka, the Bangladesh team barely got any rest before taking on Pakistan in a T20I series. Originally, they were scheduled to host India for two white-ball series in August. However, with India cancelling their tour, the national team currently has no fixtures before the Asia Cup.
But Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) chairman of cricket operations, Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, has said they are working on organising a home series against either Nepal or the Netherlands during this unexpected gap.
There is now a six-week window ahead of the Asia Cup for Liton Das and his team. Although conditioning and skill camps are in the pipeline, there remains a lack of competitive matches in the schedule. Fahim admitted that, due to the packed international calendar, arranging a series against a top-tier team was unlikely. Instead, BCB is looking into facing a lower-ranked team like Nepal or the Netherlands.
Speaking after a training programme for match referees at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla Stadium on Saturday, Fahim said:
“There have been discussions. Most countries already have packed schedules. India were supposed to tour and we had planned accordingly — that series would’ve led us into the Asia Cup. Now that they’re not coming, we are trying to bring in another side. A big team isn’t realistic at this point. It could be Nepal, it could be the Netherlands. We’ll keep trying. We are aiming for a home series.”
However, if they fail to bring in an international opponent, BCB has a backup plan. Fahim revealed that they may arrange matches against a best-available side composed of players from domestic cricket and those on the fringes of the national team.
“If we don’t get an overseas team,” Fahim said, “we are considering that, before the national team leaves for a tour, they must play a series against the strongest possible side available. This will not only serve as preparation for the national team, but also give valuable competition to those knocking on the door.”