Bangladesh’s Test series tour of Sri Lanka in jeopardy

Bangladesh’s scheduled tour of Sri Lanka for a three-match Test series in July seems to be in jeopardy. At a time when the world is trying to rise to a new dawn and adapt to the evolving situation of a pandemic-stricken world, Bangladesh cricketers and the board have expressed their reservation in touring the island nation.

Bangladesh Cricket Board officials are supposed to have interacted with prominent cricketers of the country via a teleconference. According to an unnamed senior cricketer who spoke to Cricbuzz, cricket should take a backseat for the time being. "How can we go to Sri Lanka in the present context? If we sustain the virus will it be possible to return back to our country? Suppose our family members have a similar case can we play cricket keeping everything aside,’' he opined.

Chairman of cricket operations for the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Akram Khan confirmed the improbability of the tour going ahead as planned. "Yes we had spoken with some of the players and they did not show any interest [to tour during that point of time]" Akram told Cricbuzz. "I think chances are very slim about the Sri Lanka tour commencing on scheduled time frame.”

Sri Lanka has managed to contain the pandemic to a considerable extent, and their players have returned to training. Bangladesh Cricket Board on the other hand had refused its players the opportunity to train at its national stadium. 

Akram Khan, commenting with this regard, added that player-readiness will be a key factor in the decision-making process on the scheduled tour of Sri Lanka. "Where Sri Lanka is thinking of playing cricket we are yet to resume training at our own backyard and more importantly we cannot say when the condition will improve," Akram said. "We are trying to find out who wants to train individually so that we can prepare the ground for them but I am not too sure whether everyone wants to do it or it is just a wish of few cricketers.”

"We cannot go there without proper preparation because it is a three-match Test series. The players are out of cricket for long time so after returning to cricket they will at least need 40 days training comprised with one month skill training following a 10 days fitness camp. So we cannot commit anything right away regarding the Sri Lanka tour," Akram added.

[Cricbuzz inputs]