The cricket operations chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has all but confirmed that they will be hosting Australia in a five-match T20I series starting August 2.
As per reports in the Cricbuzz, it is learnt that the Australian cricket board (ACB) is satisfied with the arrangements made by BCB. This will be Australia’s first visit to the subcontinental nation since 2017. The final agreement of the tour was made by both the boards on 20th July (Tuesday).
Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases have been on the upward slide in Bangladesh which has resulted in the government calling for a nationwide lockdown from 23rd July. "Yes, the tour is confirmed and they (Australia) are coming to play the five-match T20I series,'' Akram was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
Both Bangladesh and Australia is expected to arrive in Dhaka on July 29. While Australia is currently on the Caribbean shores playing in a three-match ODI series, Bangladesh is currently in Zimbabwe for a limited-overs series. The Australian contingent in West Indies is slated to travel to Bangladesh by chartered flight. Both the squads need to undergo a three-day hard quarantine in their respective hotel rooms.
BCB had wanted to split the matches between Dhaka and Chittagong but the visiting team wanted to play all their matches in a single venue. Both the teams will get only a day’s practice ahead of the series at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka.
Meanwhile, the Australian team directly wants to reach the hotel from the airport rather than going through the immigration process to minimise the chance of getting infected by the deadly virus.