The Bangladesh Cricket team would be returning home from their tour of New Zealand and would be welcomed by a nationwide lockdown imposed by the government to curtail the ever-rising cases of Covid-19. The returning players were to join the players in the Test squad after spending some time with their families, but now it all seems to be threatened. Even the team’s ever pending Sri Lanka tour is now under threat as well.
BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury though is hopeful that the team would be allowed to tour the island nation, but cannot help himself from casting certain doubts at it. "All the arrangements (for the tour) are in place but at the moment we are focusing on observing the condition of the country,” Cricbuzz quoted him as saying. "I cannot say it is doubtful at the moment considering the government just announced the lockdown,” Chowdhary added.
Bangladesh were originally scheduled to travel to Sri Lanka for a two-match test series in June- July 2020. However, due to Covid-19, the series was postponed to November- December 2020 and then eventually to April 2021.
Taking the situation into account, Chowdhary said that BCB would have a discussion with all the stakeholders before allowing the team to embark on the journey to Sri Lanka for the two Tests at Pallekelle.
"We will understand where we stand within a few days and a decision in this regard will be taken after consulting with respective authorities (government) as well as discussing with our Sri Lankan counterpart as well," Chowdhary said.
The two-match series begins with the first Test starting on April 21. The second Test begins on April 29.